Spotted dusky salamander explained

The spotted dusky salamander (Desmognathus conanti) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to the United States.[1] [2] [3]

Taxonomy

Desmognathus conanti was described in 1958 by Douglas A. Rossman, but was later reclassified as a subspecies of the northern dusky salamander (D. fuscus).[4] However, numerous genetic and morphological studies since then have affirmed it as being a distinct species and it was elevated to full specific status in 1996. [5] [6] [7] In addition, genetic studies indicate that D. conanti is paraphyletic with respect to the Santeetlah dusky salamander (D. santeelah), which lies nested within it; thus, D. conanti itself likely represents a species complex of multiple undescribed cryptic species.[8]

Range and Habitat

Desmognathus conanti has a wide range in the southeastern and south-central United States, ranging from southern Illinois south to the panhandle of Florida, and west to Louisiana and southern Arkansas.[9] They are semiaquatic, typicallyinhabit cool, forested seeps orstreams/streamsides. [10]

Description

Desmognathus conanti is a medium sized salamander, between 35-40 mm in bodylength at sexual maturity and is moderately stout with a moderately keeled tail.[11] It is described as having a bright color pattern and colored stripe behind its eyes. It has several pairs of golden spots on the dorsum, which are larval spots often retained as adults that may sometimes fuse to form a light dorsal stripe in adults. [12] The belly is light with dark flecks. It closely resembles D. fuscus and D. santeetlah, and is thus best distinguished from them by range.[13] [14]

Mating

Females typically move or turn away as males approach and the males must followslowly after the female. The male will perform a variety of movements including a jerking movement with itshead, a “butterfly” movement with its forelimbs(where it swings them in circularmotions simultaneously) a nudge of the female with the head, a head rub, or tailundulation. With the male’s tail undulating, it will attempt to slide the stationary female onto it and essentially drag her forward and deposit his spermatophore in order for her to receive it through her cloaca. [15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Desmognathus conanti Rossman, 1958 Amphibian Species of the World. 2021-12-23. amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org.
  2. Web site: AmphibiaWeb - Desmognathus conanti. 2021-12-23. amphibiaweb.org.
  3. Web site: NatureServe Explorer 2.0. 2021-12-23. explorer.natureserve.org.
  4. Web site: Spotted Dusky Salamander Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. 2021-12-23. www.tn.gov. en.
  5. T. A Titus and A Larson 1996. Molecular phylogenetics of desmognathine salamanders (Caudata:Plethodontidae): a reevaluation of evolution in ecology, life history, and morphology. Systematic Biology45:451–472
  6. Web site: Desmognathus conanti Rossman, 1958 Amphibian Species of the World. 2021-12-23. amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org.
  7. Beamer. David A.. Lamb. Trip. 2008-04-01. Dusky salamanders (Desmognathus, Plethodontidae) from the Coastal Plain: Multiple independent lineages and their bearing on the molecular phylogeny of the genus. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. en. 47. 1. 143–153. 10.1016/j.ympev.2008.01.015. 18337126. 2008MolPE..47..143B . 1055-7903.
  8. Pyron. R. Alexander. O'Connell. Kyle A.. Lemmon. Emily Moriarty. Lemmon. Alan R.. Beamer. David A.. 2020-05-01. Phylogenomic data reveal reticulation and incongruence among mitochondrial candidate species in Dusky Salamanders (Desmognathus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. en. 146. 106751. 10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106751. 32028035. 211047139. 1055-7903. free. 2020MolPE.14606751P .
  9. Web site: Desmognathus conanti Rossman, 1958 Amphibian Species of the World. 2021-12-23. amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org.
  10. Verrell, P.A. (1995), The courtship behaviour of the spotted dusky salamander, Desmognathus fuscusconanti (Amphibia: Caudata: Plethodontidae). Journal of Zoology, 235: 515-523.
  11. G.A. Marvin, R. Bryan, J. Hardwick. Effect of chronic low body temperature on feeding and gut passage in aplethodontid salamander Journal of Thermal Biology, 69 (2017), pp. 319-324, 10.1016/J.JTHERBIO.2017.09.003
  12. Bonett, R. M. (2002). Analysis of the Contact Zone between the Dusky SalamandersDesmognathus fuscus fuscus and Desmognathus fuscus conanti (Caudata:Plethodontidae). Copeia, 2002(2), 344–355. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1448049
  13. Web site: Species Profile: Northern / Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus / conanti) SREL Herpetology. 2021-12-23. srelherp.uga.edu.
  14. Web site: Spotted Dusky Salamander – INHS Herpetology Collection. 2021-12-23. en-US.
  15. Verrell, P.A. (1995), The courtship behaviour of the spotted dusky salamander, Desmognathus fuscusconanti (Amphibia: Caudata: Plethodontidae). Journal of Zoology, 235: 515-523.

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