Plethodon glutinosus

Highton et al. (1989) regarded P. glutinosus (sensu lato) as a complex of multiple species, most of which can be recognized only by biochemical characteristics (allele frequencies). Taxa formerly included in P. glutinosus and recognized as distinct species by Highton et al. (1989) include: P. teyahalee, P. chattahoochee, P. chlorobryonis, P. variolatus, P. ocmulgee, P. kiamichi, P. mississippi, P. kisatchie, P. sequoyah, P. grobmani, P. cylindraceus, P. albagula, P. savannah, P. aureolus, and P. kentucki. Joyce et al. (2019) used one mitochondrial and one nuclear gene to estimate phylogeographic lineage diversity of the P. glutinosus complex in Alabama and recommended synonymizing P. grobmani and P. mississippi with P. glutinosus. They further suggested recognizing only a single, widespread P. glutinosus, which would synonymize many species recognized by Highton et al. (1989). We are following Nicholson (2025) in retaining these taxa pending additional data.

Large range in the eastern U.S.; taxonomic scope of the species is debatable, but rank is G5 even with the most restrictive application of the name P. glutinosus.

Plethodon glutinosus complex: southern New Hampshire (disjunct), western Connecticut, and New York south to central Florida, west to Missouri, eastern Oklahoma, and south-central Texas (disjunct) (Petranka 1998).

Plethodon glutinosus sensu Highton et al. (1989): northeastern United States to central Illinois, south to central Alabama, central Georgia, western Virginia, northern Maryland, and central New Jersey.

This species, whether defined in the broad sense (e.g., Petranka 1998) or more narrowly (e.g., sensu Highton et al. 1989), is represented by many and/or large occurrences throughout most of the range.

Intensive harvest of mature forest greatly reduces salamander density in the logged area; population recovery occurs slowly (Herbeck and Larsen 1999). However, logging does not constitute a major threat to the security of the global population.