Southern Appalachian Salamander

About the Southern Appalachian Salamander

The southern Appalachian salamander (Plethodon teyahalee) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. This species also belongs in the Plethodon Glutinosus complex, which is also known as the group of Lungless Slimy Salamanders in the Eastern United States.

The Southern Appalachian Salamander, P. teyahalee, is a large black salamander with very small dorsal white spots and larger lateral white spots. Females also tend to be larger than males, which assists them in carrying eggs. The belly of this species is usually a slate gray, and the chin is usually a lighter coloration than the belly. They can reach sizes between 7 and 17 cm (4.75 in to 6.75 in). They have about 16 costal grooves on their lateral side.

P. teyahalee is endemic to the southern Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States, where it is found in small portions of North Georgia, northwestern South Carolina, west of the French Broad River in western North Carolina, and smaller areas of eastern Tennessee, including parts of the Great Smoky Mountains. The salamander's altitudinal range extends to 1,550 m. Its natural habitat is temperate Appalachian forests.... Wikipedia →