Western slimy salamander

The western slimy salamander, also known as the whitethroat slimy salamander or white-throated slimy salamander (Plethodon albagula) is a species of salamander. It is endemic to the United States of America and found in two disjunct populations, one from Missouri to Oklahoma, and Arkansas, and another in south-central Texas.[1][2]

Western slimy salamander
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Plethodontidae
Subfamily: Plethodontinae
Genus: Plethodon
Species:
P. albagula
Binomial name
Plethodon albagula
Grobman, 1944
Synonyms[2]
  • Plethodon glutinosus albagula
    Grobman, 1944

Description

The western slimy salamander is typically black in color with white speckling. On some specimens, the white speckling turns into large, white blotches along the sides of their bodies. They have large, bulbous eyes and long tails.

Behavior

Primarily nocturnal, it is commonly found under rocks, or other ground debris in moist, wooded areas. Eggs are laid in damp protected locations. The species has no aquatic larval stage. They are a shy species of salamander and are not normally found of areas where humans frequent. They live in areas of high humidity levels.

References
  1. Hammerson, G.A. (2008). "Plethodon albagula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T59329A11919068. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2020). "Plethodon albagula Grobman, 1944". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 20 February 2020.


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