Red Hills salamander
Encyclopedia
The Red Hills Salamander (Phaeognathus hubrichti) is a fairly large, terrestrial salamander
growing to about 255 millimeters. Its body color is gray to brownish without markings, and its limbs are relatively short. It is the official state amphibian of Alabama.
. These formations are included within the Red Hills physiographic province of the Coastal Plain
. The range is limited on the east by the Conecuh River
and on the west by the Alabama River
(Jordan and Mount 1975). Currently, there are eight published locality records from Butler, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, and Monroe Counties (Brandon 1965; Schwaner and Mount 1970).
This species inhabits burrows located on the slopes of moist, cool mesic ravines shaded by an overstory of predominately hardwood trees. These areas are underlain by a subsurface siltstone stratum containing many crevices, root tracings, and solution channels which are utilized by the Salamander. The topsoil in typical habitat is sandy loam.
Data for comparison of habitat changes are available from two studies; one by French (1976) and one by Dodd (1989). Ninety-one of the same sites were surveyed in both studies. (Each study also surveyed additional sites not visited by the other study.) Of these 91 sites, 54 appeared similar to earlier descriptions, 19 had improved habitat conditions, and 18 were adversely affected by timber cutting since 1976. Of the 19 sites judged to have improved, 18 had been cleared of trees or had been selectively cut prior to French's survey but have since regrown a full tree canopy. (None of these improved sites had been mechanically prepared for replanting.) In addition to these 91 sites, 14 others examined in the latest survey were damaged by timber cutting; their status in 1976, however, was unknown.
In 2010, The Nature Conservancy acquired 1786 acres (7.2 km²) of land in southwest Alabama in an effort to provide sufficient habitat to support the survival of the species. The land will eventually be transferred for recreational use to the state of Alabama.
Salamander
Salamander is a common name of approximately 500 species of amphibians. They are typically characterized by a superficially lizard-like appearance, with their slender bodies, short noses, and long tails. All known fossils and extinct species fall under the order Caudata, while sometimes the extant...
growing to about 255 millimeters. Its body color is gray to brownish without markings, and its limbs are relatively short. It is the official state amphibian of Alabama.
Habitat
The range of the Red Hills Salamander is restricted to a narrow belt of two geological formations, approximately 60 miles (96.6 km) long (east to west) and between 10 and 25 miles (40.2 km) wide (north to south), in southern AlabamaAlabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. These formations are included within the Red Hills physiographic province of the Coastal Plain
Coastal plain
A coastal plain is an area of flat, low-lying land adjacent to a seacoast and separated from the interior by other features. One of the world's longest coastal plains is located in eastern South America. The southwestern coastal plain of North America is notable for its species diversity...
. The range is limited on the east by the Conecuh River
Conecuh River
The Conecuh River and Escambia River constitute a single river in Alabama and Florida in the United States.The Conecuh River rises near Union Springs in the state and flows in a general southwesterly direction into Florida near Century. The river's name changes from the Conecuh to the Escambia at...
and on the west by the Alabama River
Alabama River
The Alabama River, in the U.S. state of Alabama, is formed by the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers, which unite about north of Montgomery.The river flows west to Selma, then southwest until, about from Mobile, it unites with the Tombigbee, forming the Mobile and Tensaw rivers, which discharge into...
(Jordan and Mount 1975). Currently, there are eight published locality records from Butler, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, and Monroe Counties (Brandon 1965; Schwaner and Mount 1970).
This species inhabits burrows located on the slopes of moist, cool mesic ravines shaded by an overstory of predominately hardwood trees. These areas are underlain by a subsurface siltstone stratum containing many crevices, root tracings, and solution channels which are utilized by the Salamander. The topsoil in typical habitat is sandy loam.
Data for comparison of habitat changes are available from two studies; one by French (1976) and one by Dodd (1989). Ninety-one of the same sites were surveyed in both studies. (Each study also surveyed additional sites not visited by the other study.) Of these 91 sites, 54 appeared similar to earlier descriptions, 19 had improved habitat conditions, and 18 were adversely affected by timber cutting since 1976. Of the 19 sites judged to have improved, 18 had been cleared of trees or had been selectively cut prior to French's survey but have since regrown a full tree canopy. (None of these improved sites had been mechanically prepared for replanting.) In addition to these 91 sites, 14 others examined in the latest survey were damaged by timber cutting; their status in 1976, however, was unknown.
Status
The Red Hills Salamander is considered a threatened species. Primary threats to this species include its restricted range, loss of habitat, a low reproductive rate and a limited capability of dispersal. Of the approximately 63,000 acres (250 km²) of remaining habitat, about 60 percent is currently owned or leased by paper companies which primarily use a clear-cut system of forest management. This technique, coupled with mechanical site preparation for replanting, appears to completely destroy the habitat for the Red Hills Salamander. However as noted above, the Red Hills Salamander prefers hardwood sites which are not managed using a clear-cut system. the clear-cut system is used primarily in pine management. Pine sites are not conducive as Red Hills Salamander habitat.In 2010, The Nature Conservancy acquired 1786 acres (7.2 km²) of land in southwest Alabama in an effort to provide sufficient habitat to support the survival of the species. The land will eventually be transferred for recreational use to the state of Alabama.