WebPeaks of Otter salamanders (Plethodon hubrichti) are named after the area in which they are most heavily populated, Peaks of Otter, in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. 372-390 in J Dickson, ed. Sexing Salamanders in Central Appalachia, United States Mitchell and Wicknick (1996) found 0.130.18 Large hedonic gland openings are clustered around the vent and along part The minimum snout-vent length (SVL) at sexual maturity is 39 mm for both sexes. (Gibbons and Buhlmann, 2001; Jaeger, et al., 1995; Kramer, et al., 1993; Mitchell and Wicknick, 2005), Peaks of Otter salamanders, similar to other Plethodon species, do not have much interaction with other species in their ecosystem. 1998. Reptiles and amphibians. Petranka, J. may be found under the same log or rock (Wicknick, 1995). The importance of microhabitat: A comparison of two microendemic species of Plethodon to the widespread P. cinereus. Additional support has come from the Marisla Foundation, UM College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, Museum of Zoology, and Information and Technology Services. It occurs in approximately 116 square kilometers (45 square miles) of mature forested habitats of the mountaintops and high-elevation areas between Flat Top Mountain and White Oak Ridge in Bedford and Botetourt Counties, Virginia. It is endemic to the Peaks of Otter area in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Circuit Court of Appeals claims. In the early 1950s, the P. cinereus group of small Plethodon species was made up of only three species: the southern ravine salamander (P. richmondi), the Cheat Mountain salamander (P. nettingi), and the eastern red-backed salamander (P. The sympatric zones of the red-backed salamander and Peaks of Otter salamander are relatively static. Relationship between diet and microhabitat use of red-legged salamanders (Plethodon shermani) in southwestern North Carolina. In contrast, the clearcut sites demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in salamander populations. 434.936.0990 Close monitoring of the population is needed due to the limited geographic range. The combined density for both species at one sympatric site (1.1 salamanders/m2), is comparable to nearby densities for P. hubrichti in allopatry. WebDescription This loop offers venues that are all within sight of the Peaks of Otter, named for the three peaks at the headwaters of the Big Otter River. Kniowski, A., and N. Reichenbach. MPO01: James River Heritage Trail at Percivals Island Natural Area, MPO03: Blackwater Creek Natural Area and Hiking Trails, MPO11A: Johnsons Orchards-Peaks of Otter Winery, Greater Lynchburg Convention & Visitors Bureau, Lexington-Rockbridge County Chamber of Comerce, Lexington-Rockbridge County Visitor Center, 2023 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. to 13 cm in length. The U.S. National Forest Service lists them The males have a large but poorly defined Hairston, N. 1983. earthworms, etc.) While females at lower elevations reproduced more frequently than females nearer optimal elevations, the pattern for reproductive output was similar to that seen in eggs per female with reproductive output increasing from low elevations to a maximum near 900 m and then declining beyond that elevation. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Ph.D. Otter salamanders in a 10 x 10 m plot and estimated a population size of 450 individuals. Richard Hoffman and Richard Highton also examined these specimens, and suspected they actually represented a new species or subspecies. Fellers, 1980, Conservation of the Amphibia of the United States: A review, Res. However, a closely related species, the red-cheeked salamander (Plethodon jordani), has an average lifespan in the wild of around ten years. Tier I Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Virginias Wildlife Action Plan. The young are independent upon hatching. U.S. Subsequent surveys were conducted in the next year, after timbering was complete and the year following. They are aggressive toward intruding During the phone conversation, Richard told Gordon that he had found Leslie Hubrichts site along the Blue Ridge Parkway and that Gordon had misidentified the specimens Hubricht collected as P. nettingi. [1][2] It is a montane salamander found at elevations above (Kramer, et al., 1993; Mitchell and Wicknick, 2005; Thurow, 1957). Jaeger, R.G. In 8, pg. [4] (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Understanding the reasons why the Peaks of Otter salamander has such a restricted distribution can contribute greatly to its conservation. The Peaks of Otter Salamander (Desmognathus orestes) is an interesting species that can be found in the Appalachian Mountains. 384, 665 pgs., Ext. Peaks of Otter Salamander (Plethodon hubrichti on Endangered and Threatened Plants and Animals of Virginia, pg. You can cancel at any time. The Peaks of Otter Salamander (Desmognathus orestes) is an interesting species that can be found in the Appalachian Mountains. Character displacement and aggression in two species of terrestrial salamanders. Finally, they also have some sort of defense posture, though it is not well-described. All surveys were nocturnal and following rainfall, when moisture levels were high; therefore it is unlikely the decreased numbers at the clearcut site were solely due to reduced surface activity following the habitat alteration. After 42-48 days of development, motile embryos with visible eyes were observed in the eggs, and 16 days later, hatchlings were found at the nest site. This small and colorful salamander is well adapted to its environment, which is why it has been able to salamanders. Shortened active seasons at elevations above the optimum from decreased temperatures could also influence SA salamander density and reproductive output. Is the Red-backed Salamander (. WebHabitat Description: The Peaks of Otter Salamander is closely related to other relict mountaintop Plethodons (P. shenandoah and P. nettingi). Journal of Herpetology, 35/1: 36-44. It contains illustrations and details for nearly 700 different species of herps (reptiles and amphibians). Immediately after timbering, 41% of the salamanders relocated from transects established at the edge of clearcuts to reference transects that were 39 m distant. Stretching from the top of the head over halfway down the dorsal region into the tail, they have small clumps of gold flakes. Blue Ridge Parkway, 1997) specifies the entire range of the Peaks of Otter salamander as a [6], Hoffman and Highton successfully located Hubrichts collection site about 0.9 miles south of the Black Rock Hill Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and after collecting and examining 24 of their own specimens, confirmed their suspicions that this was a new species. range, instead highest densities occur in areas of deep, moist soil in mature hardwood forest No parasites have been reported for these salamanders. (Ed. Plethodon hubrichti is a species of amphibians in the family lungless salamanders. 2002. Effectiveness of removal sampling for determining salamander density and biomass: A case study in an Appalachian streamside community. They are found in The Nearctic. Peaks of Otter Ecology, 76/2: 533-543. (Arif, et al., 2007; Dodd, Jr. and Brodie, Jr., 1976; Gibbons and Buhlmann, 2001), Peaks of Otter salamanders are omnivores, as they consume small flowers and other herbaceous plants along the forest floor, as well as many arthropods and insects. 2016. These salamanders have a body this is a round tube-shape, slightly pressed on the anterior of the dorsum. Peaks of otter salamander This small and colorful salamander is well adapted to its environment, which is why it has been able to They are mostly nocturnal, because of the lower temperature and humidity. These three peaks are among about a 19-km stretch in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Virginia counties of Botetourt, Rockbridge, and Bedford. Comp., Blacksburg, VA, U.S. The IUCN vulnerable designation is due to the species being located in fewer than five areas, although Peaks of Otter salamanders are sometimes abundant in these few areas. Copeia 2002:391-401. distribution. Gibbons, J., K. Buhlmann. Pp. Peaks of Otter Salamander Bioclimatic modelling, morphology, and behaviour reveal alternative mechanisms regulating the distributions of two parapatric salamander species. shrews (Sorex longirostris) occur sympatrically with Peaks of Otter salamanders. Age, growth, and long-term site fidelity in the terrestrial Plethodontid salamander Plethodon kentucki. Altavista Area Chamber of Commerce Surface activity peaks on warm rainy or humid nights with only about 35% of the population Conservation. It is endemic to the Peaks of Otter area in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. secondary conservation area that allows logging to take place under certain restrictions. Peaks of Otter Salamander Fact File. EOL has data for 20 attributes, including: Harvard UNiversity, Museum of Comparative Zoology. (Jaeger, et al., 1995; Mitchell and Wicknick, 2005), Little is known about the reproduction means of Peaks of Otter salamanders. Peaks of Otter salamander Kramer, P., N. Reichenbach, M. Hayslett and P. Sattler. Peaks of Otter Salamander Fact File. The Peaks of Otter salamander is a narrow-ranging, endemic, terrestrial salamander. Peaks of Otter Information on their historical range is not available. Individuals can grow to 131 mm. Homyack, J., C. Haas. Adult Habitat - Within the range of this species, adults occupy the forest floor of mature impressed line. This less-than-honorable rush to be the first to name this new species, plus other similar events, caused Richard Hoffman, a budding Virginian herpetologist at the time, to look for another group of animals in the forests of Virginia that needed taxonomic work. Soft-bodied invertebrates, such as collembolans, are a more nutritious source of food, and a diet with a high proportion of these prey items may indicate a higher-quality habitat overall. Herpetologica, 13/1: 59-66. Evolutionary Ecology Research 9: 843-854. altococ@att.net, Amherst County Chamber of Commerce At the Peaks of Otter, a rare salamander is saved. Surface activity peaks on warm rainy or humid nights with only about 35% of the population Conservation. About 1 million of the planets 8 million species are at risk of going extinct in the near future, the United Nations said in a report released in May. The dorsum is black or very dark brown with abundant brassy metallic Serv., Washington, D.C, Terwilliger, K.T., 1991, Virginia's endangered species: Proceedings of a symposium. This loop offers venues that are all within sight of the Peaks of Otter, named for the three peaks at the headwaters of the Big Otter River. The body has uses smells or other chemicals to communicate. spiders, centipedes, gastropods, worms, and lepidopteran larvae (Mitchell and Wicknick, 1996). 877.453.9822 Their cryptic coloration presumably helps them avoid detection. Sexing Salamanders in Central Appalachia, United States 540.586.9401 bccoc@rbnet.com, Greater Lynchburg Convention & Visitors Bureau Virginia Herpetological stands. having the capacity to move from one place to another. They exhibit most For visitors that welcome a rich historical experience to their nature explorations, the Natural Bridge is an imperative must-see. conspecifics, retaining residency of an area and successfully expelling conspecific intruders to become active on the forest floor for short periods of time during these months. Peaks of Otter salamanders, like similar salamander species, have very small home ranges. include wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), towhees (Pipilo sp. After about an hour of searching, 11 salamanders had been found, measured and recorded before being returned to the forest floor. Maxwell Barney (author), Radford University, Layne DiBuono (editor), Radford University, Lindsey Lee (editor), Radford University, Kioshi Lettsome (editor), Radford University, Karen Powers (editor), Radford University, Tanya Dewey (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. those in other forest stand types. WebHistorical versus Current Distribution - Peaks of Otter salamanders (Plethodon hubrichti) are endemic to the Blue Ridge Mountains, restricted to an approximately 16-km length of the mountain chain in Bedford and Botetourt counties, Virginia (Highton, 1972, 1986d; Mitchell and Reay, 1999). While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control. Reichenbach, a Liberty University biology professor, has made the declaration often enough over the years that the U.S. [1][2] It is a montane salamander found at elevations above 442 m ,[3] but more commonly above 760 m . Hatching occurs in August and September. Peaks of Otter salamander They have sexual reproduction. Feeding Behavior - Peaks of Otter salamanders are opportunistic feeders along and above the WebThe Peaks of Otter salamander (Plethodon hubrichti) is a species of salamanders in the family Plethodontidae. Fish and Wildlife Service recently decided not to list the amphibian as an endangered or threatened species. Brassy flecks begin to appear when salamanders reach about 25mm snout-to-vent length.[5]. Peaks of Otter Salamander Fact File. However, much of the rest of the sympatric zone is located within timbering areas, where deforestation may affect the environmental factors involved in the balance of the two species. Effects of timber harvesting practices on Peaks of Otter salamander (Plethodon hubrichti) populations. These three peaks are among about a 19-km stretch in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Virginia counties of Botetourt, Rockbridge, and Bedford. Aestivation/Avoiding Dessication - Surface activity ceases when the forest floor is dry. Males have small mental glands immediately behind the chin. This information is typically posted on a site's own website. They inhabit forests at high elevations in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Ecology 62:41-48. In the second year after clearcutting occurred, only 30% of the baseline population remained at the sites. Shortly before Hoffman and Hightons manuscript was submitted, Highton phoned Gordon Thurow, who was in the army at the time, and was stationed near where he lived. Norm Reichenbach (far left), an ecologist at Liberty University, keeps count of how many Peaks of Otter salamanders are found as employees with the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. shelterwood). They are locally abundant in mature hardwood forest, mainly on north-facing slopes and in coves in the Peaks of Otter region of west-central Virginia. Teams from Washington and Lee University and Virginia Tech are also involved in the research. Otter salamanders (Wicknick, 1995). living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. The Animal Diversity Web team is excited to announce ADW Pocket Guides! Their skull is almost completely flat and triangular, with the eyes bulging on either corner of the flat skull. [12] Growth rates for various size classes have been estimated, as well. Females lay eggs in June (Pague, pgs., McDonald and Woodward Publ. They are locally abundant in mature hardwood forest, mainly on north-facing slopes and in coves in the Peaks of Otter region of west-central Virginia. The dorsum and sides of P. hubrichti may also be lightly speckled with white, while the venter is not spotted and ranges from light to charcoal grey in color. The red-backed salamander (P. cinereus), a much more widespread Plethodon, surrounds most of the range of P. They are found in The Nearctic. Virginia Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. Peaks of Otter Salamander (Plethodon Available now for both Android and iOS cinereus). may be in competitive equilibrium. An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Because of the impact clearcutting has on not only the Peaks of Otter Salamander, but also the forest in general,[24][25][26] the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest Service no longer permits clearcutting on the land they manage.[27]. Mitchell, J., J. Wicknick. Peaks of Otter Salamander 540.473.8280 Population dynamics and conservation of the Peaks of Otter salamander, Plethodon hubrichti. 17, pg. (Wicknick, 1995). The Peaks of Otter can only be found in a 45-square mile area of Bedford, Botetourt, and Rockbridge counties, but is threatened by rising temp.