Desmognathus mavrokoilius

Pyron and Beamer (2022) state "this species cannot, to our knowledge, be reliably differentiated from closely related, Black-bellied congeners by any feature of external phenotype."

Beachy and Bruce (2003) described Gott Farm Creek in the Bald Mountains, Madison County, NC as a typical southern Appalachian headwater stream with a heterogeneous substrate of large rocks, cobble, gravel, sand, and silt, with an alternation of riffles (2-10 cm depth) and pools (<20 cm depth). The upland was described as cove forest dominated by Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and hardwoods, with a dense understory of rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) (Beachy and Bruce 2003). Pope (1924) described a stony spring stream that cascaded down steep, wooded hillsides for less than 0.25 mi. down through a thick jumble of decaying leaves, sections of logs, and small, flat stones. This species is generally found very near the edge of the stream, as opposed to drier land above the stream (Pope 1924, Beachy and Bruce 2003).

In early summer, females attach eggs in a single layer on the underside of flat rocks, and guard the clutch (Pope 1924, Beachy and Bruce 2003). Yolked follicles ranged from 30-46 (Beachy and Bruce 2003). Females have been found brooding up to 38 eggs (Pope 1924, Organ 1961, Beachy and Bruce 2003). Hatching occurs in late summer and early fall at 13-16 mm SVL (Beachy and Bruce 2003, Pyron and Beamer 2022). Metamorphosis occurs in early to mid summer after 2-3 years (Beachy and Bruce 2003). Males may mature as early as 4 years (1 year post-metamorphosis) and females at 5 years (2 years post-metamorphosis) (Beachy and Bruce 2003).