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Eurycea multiplicata

(Cope, 1869)

Many-ribbed Salamander

G4Apparently Secure Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101268
Element CodeAAAAD05060
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusEurycea
Concept Reference
Frost, D. R. 1985. Amphibian species of the world. A taxonomic and geographical reference. Allen Press, Inc., and The Association of Systematics Collections, Lawrence, Kansas. v + 732 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
DNA studies by Bonett and Chippindale (2004) indicate that Eurycea multiplicata griseogaster and E. tynerensis are conspecific. E. m. griseogaster is treated as a junior synonym of E. tynerensis. No subspecies of E. multiplicata are recognized. Bonett et al. (2014 "2013") provided a molecular tree that suggests the possibility of cryptic species (Frost 2020).
Conservation Status
Review Date2004-07-02
Change Date2001-10-18
Edition Date2004-07-02
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 300
Rank Reasons
Occurs in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas (at least formerly); apparently secure.
Range Extent Comments
This species occurs in the Ouachita Mountains of west-central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma, USA.
Occurrences Comments
Many occurrences.
Threat Impact Comments
Due to its close association with water, this species is less affected by land clearing and deforestation than are many other salamanders (Petranka 1998). In some areas, subspecies griseogaster may be subject to loss of habitat associated with pollution and cattle grazing.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Cave springs and their runs; cold, clear streams. Disperses into wooded terrestrial habitats in wet weather. Hides under rocks, logs, and other objects in or out of water. Eggs are laid on undersides of rocks in cave streams and springs.

Reproduction

Lays row of 3-21 eggs, September-April. Aquatic larvae hatch in 4-6 weeks, metamorphose in 5-8 months. Breeding phenology and duration of larval period depend on water temperature and supply.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - Hardwood
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
ArkansasS4Yes
OklahomaS4Yes
Roadless Areas (3)
Arkansas (2)
AreaForestAcres
Blue MountainOuachita National Forest9,755
Brush HeapOuachita National Forest4,205
Oklahoma (1)
AreaForestAcres
Beech CreekOuachita National Forest8,303
References (17)
  1. Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp.
  2. Blackburn, L., P. Nanjappa, and M. J. Lannoo. 2001. An Atlas of the Distribution of U.S. Amphibians. Copyright, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA.
  3. Bonett, R. M., and P. T. Chippindale. 2004. Speciation, phylogeography and evolution of life history and morphology in plethodontid salamanders of the <i>Eurycea multiplicata</i> complex. Molecular Ecology 13: 1189-1203.
  4. Bonett, R. M., M. A. Steffen, S. M. Lambert, J. J. Wiens, and P. T. Chippindale. 2014. Evolution of paedomorphosis in plethodontid salamanders: ecological correlated and re-evolution of metamorphosis. Evolution 68: 466-482.
  5. Collins, J. T. 1982. Amphibians and reptiles in Kansas. Second edition. Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist., Pub. Ed. Ser. 8. xiii + 356 pp.
  6. Collins, J. T. 1993. Amphibians and reptiles in Kansas. Third edition, revised. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Public Education Series No. 13. xx + 397 pp.
  7. Conant, R. and J. T. Collins. 1991. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 450 pp.
  8. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  9. Dundee, H.A. 1965. Eurycea multiplicata. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 21:1-2.
  10. Figg, D. E. 1991. Missouri Department of Conservation Annual Nongame and Endangered Species Report July 1990 - June 1991. ii + 35 pp.
  11. Frost, D. R. 1985. Amphibian species of the world. A taxonomic and geographical reference. Allen Press, Inc., and The Association of Systematics Collections, Lawrence, Kansas. v + 732 pp.
  12. Frost, D.R. 2020. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Online: http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.html
  13. Ireland, P. H. 1976. Reproduction and larval development ofthe gray-bellied salamander Eurycea multiplicata griseogast-er. Herpetologica 32:233-238.
  14. Johnson, T.R. 1977. The Amphibians of Missouri. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Public Education Series 6: ix + 134 pp.
  15. Petranka, J. W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
  16. Trauth, S. E., H. W. Robison, and M. V. Plummer. 2004. The amphibians and reptiles of Arkansas. University of Arkansas Press.
  17. Tumlison, R., G. R. Cline, and P. Zwank. 1990b. Morphological discrimination between the Oklahoma salamander (EURYCEA TYNERENSIS) and the graybelly salamander (EURYCEA MULTIPLICATA GRISEOGASTER). Copeia 1990:242-246.