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| Subspecies: | Unknown |
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| Est. World Population: | |
| CITES Status: | NOT LISTED |
| IUCN Status: | Near Threatened |
| U.S. ESA Status: | NOT LISTED |
| Body Length: | |
| Tail Length: | |
| Shoulder Height: | |
| Weight: | |
| Top Speed: | |
| Jumping Ability: | (Horizontal) |
| Life Span: | in the Wild |
| Life Span: | in Captivity |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Males) |
| Litter Size: | |
| Gestation Period: | |
Habitat:
This species inhabits ridges in wooded areas that are characterized by deep soil that supports vegetation comprised of White Oak, Pink Honeysuckle, and Late Low Blueberry. It also occurs on forested slopes within the valley characterized by shallow, rocky soils that support chestnut oak, mountain laurel, red maple, witch hazel, and late low blueberry bushes. Farther down these slopes, the species can be found in areas where the soil is rocky and has exposed bedrock as well as vegetation (Green et al. 2014). Eggs are laid in moist cavities, where they develop directly without a larval stage. Subpopulations are likely separated by unsuitable habitat, as the species occurs on forested ridges and the land between these ridges has typically been converted for farmland or residential areas (W. Flint pers. comm. July 2021).
Range:
This species is known from eastern West Virginia and adjacent northwestern Virginia in the USA. Its range includes the Shenandoah, South Branch, and Nathaniel Mountains and extends west to the South Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River (Green et al. 2014). It occurs at elevations between 500–1,200 m asl (W. Flint pers. comm. July 2021). Highton (1999) mapped 28 collections sites, and six sites where hybrids with Plethodon hoffmani occur. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 2,788 km2.
Conservation:
Conservation Actions In-Place
This species is known to occur in a few protected areas, including Lost River State Park. It is listed as a Tier III Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the state of Virginia.
In an effort to prevent the introduction of Bsal into the US, an Interim Rule of the Lacey Act has been enacted that bans the importation of 201 species of salamanders (USFWS 2016). Additionally, a temporary voluntary trade moratorium of imports of Asian salamander species that are known to carry the disease until such time as effective testing and treatment regimens can be developed and distributed has been recommended to all exporters, shippers, sellers and buyers by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC). A North America Bsal Task Force has also been created, with working groups designed to address a variety of disease prevention and mitigation goals (North America Bsal Task Force 2021).
Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats.
This species is known to occur in a few protected areas, including Lost River State Park. It is listed as a Tier III Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the state of Virginia.
In an effort to prevent the introduction of Bsal into the US, an Interim Rule of the Lacey Act has been enacted that bans the importation of 201 species of salamanders (USFWS 2016). Additionally, a temporary voluntary trade moratorium of imports of Asian salamander species that are known to carry the disease until such time as effective testing and treatment regimens can be developed and distributed has been recommended to all exporters, shippers, sellers and buyers by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC). A North America Bsal Task Force has also been created, with working groups designed to address a variety of disease prevention and mitigation goals (North America Bsal Task Force 2021).
Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats.