Del Norte salamander

Del Norte salamander
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Plethodontidae
Subfamily: Plethodontinae
Genus: Plethodon
Species: P. elongatus
Binomial name
Plethodon elongatus
Van Denburgh, 1916

The Del Norte salamander (Plethodon elongatus) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to the United States and found in southwestern Oregon and northwestern California.[1][2][3]

Description

Plethodon elongatus is a medium-sized, slender salamander. Adults are 6–7.5 cm (2.4–3.0 in) from snout to vent, and 11–15 cm (4.3–5.9 in) in total length. Limbs are relatively short; toes are short and slightly webbed. Dorsal coloration is dark brown or black. There is a reddish or reddish-brown straight-edged mid-dorsal stripe that may extend from head to tip of tail; the stripe may be less pronounced in older animals.[3]

Life history

Plethodon elongatus is a fully terrestrial salamander. Clutch size is 3–11 eggs (mean 8). There is no free-living larval stage, and juveniles hatch completely metamorphosed, measuring about 18 mm (0.71 in) in snout–vent length.[3]

Habitat and conservation

The species occurs in areas of moist talus and rocky substrates in redwood or Douglas fir forests. It is typically encountered among moss-covered rocks or under bark and other forest litter, usually avoiding very wet areas.[1]

Del Norte salamander is locally abundant in suitable habitat. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by logging.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hammerson, G. & Welsh, H. (2004). "Plethodon elongatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2015). "Plethodon elongatus Van Denburgh, 1916". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "Plethodon elongatus". AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
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