Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.757080
Element CodeAAAAD12550
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNVulnerable
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusPlethodon
Concept ReferenceHighton, R. 2004. A new species of woodland salamander of the Plethodon cinereus group from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Jeffersoniana 14:1-22.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2017-10-27
Change Date2005-01-13
Edition Date2017-10-27
Edition AuthorsDavidson, A.D.
Threat ImpactHigh - medium
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank ReasonsExtremely restricted range (<80 km2); vulnerable to stochastic events, disease, climate change, and gene swamping. Currently not protected.
Range Extent CommentsEndemic to the central Blue Ridge Mountains of the southern Appalachians in Virginia (Highton 2004). Plethodon sherando is known to occur at elevations between 579-1,091 meters in a small area of 63 km2 - 73 km2 in the Big Levels region of Augusta County, Virginia; it has been taken sympatrically with P. cinereus at five sites at lower elevations (Highton 2004, Bayer et al. 2012).
Occurrences CommentsFifteen populations are known in the Big Levels area of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province of Augusta and Nelson counties, Virginia (Highton 2004). Additional surveys could reveal more populations.
Threat Impact CommentsHas extremely restricted range (<80 km2), making this species highly vulnerable to stochastic events, disease, climate change, and gene swamping. Currently not protected.