Del Norte salamander
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Plethodontidae
Subfamily: Plethodontinae
Genus: Plethodon
Species:
P. elongatus
Binomial name
Plethodon elongatus

The Del Norte salamander (Plethodon elongatus) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae endemic to the United States 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. A reddish or reddish-brown straight-edged mid-dorsal stripe may extend from the head to the tip of the tail; the stripe may be less pronounced in older animals.[3]

Life history

P. elongatus is a fully terrestrial salamander. Clutch size is three to 11 eggs (mean eight). No free-living larval stage exists, 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]

The 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 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2022). "Plethodon elongatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T59339A118994428. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  2. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2021). "Plethodon elongatus Van Denburgh, 1916". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  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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