Desmognathus is a genus of lungless salamanders in the family Plethodontidae known as dusky salamanders. They range throughout the eastern United States as far west as Texas, and north to southeastern Canada.
Species of the genus Desmognathus have a unique jaw-opening mechanism where the lower jaw is stationary and the skull swings open.[1] There are additional stalked condyles, an atlanto-mandibular ligament, along with other skeletal and musculature features that have evolved to accompany this type of jaw-opening mechanism. Additionally, they are known to exhibit maternal care by brooding over their eggs.
This genus includes the following 39-40 species:
| Binomial Name and Author | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Desmognathus abditus | Cumberland dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus adatsihi | Cherokee mountain dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus aeneus | Seepage salamander |
| Desmognathus amphileucus | Nantahala blackbelly salamander |
| Desmognathus anicetus | Foothills dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus apalachicolae | Apalachicola dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus aureatus | Golden shovelnose salamander |
| Desmognathus auriculatus | Holbrook's southern dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus bairdi | Piedmont dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus balsameus | Great Balsams mountain dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus brimleyorum | Ouachita dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus campi | Savannah dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus carolinensis | Carolina mountain dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus catahoula | Catahoula spotted dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus cheaha | Talladega seal salamander |
| Desmognathus conanti | Spotted dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus folkertsi | Dwarf blackbelly salamander |
| Desmognathus fuscus | Northern dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus gvnigeusgwotli | Cherokee blackbelly salamander |
| Desmognathus imitator | Imitator salamander |
| Desmognathus intermedius | Central shovelnose salamander |
| Desmognathus kanawha | Kanawha blackbelly salamander |
| Desmognathus lycos | Wolf dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus marmoratus | Shovelnose salamander |
| Desmognathus mavrokoilius | Pisgah blackbelly salamander |
| Desmognathus monticola | Seal salamander |
| Desmognathus ochrophaeus | Allegheny mountain dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus ocoee | Ocoee dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus orestes | Blue Ridge dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus organi | Northern pygmy salamander |
| Desmognathus pascagoula | Pascagoula dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus perlapsus | Tallulah dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus planiceps | Flat-headed salamander |
| Desmognathus quadramaculatus | Blackbelly salamander (defunct) |
| Desmognathus santeetlah | Santeetlah dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus tilleyi | Max Patch dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus valentinei | Valentine's southern dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus valtos | Carolina swamp dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus welteri | Black Mountain dusky salamander |
| Desmognathus wrighti | Pygmy salamander |