Siskiyou Mountains salamander
Encyclopedia
The Siskiyou Mountains salamander, Plethodon stormi, also called the Siskiyou Mountain salamander, exists only in isolated locations along the Klamath River
in northern California and southern Oregon
. It is a close relative of the Del Norte Salamander
, and some herpetologists
believe it may be a subspecies
of that animal.
it lacks lungs and respires through its moist skin. It is nocturnal, prefers cool, moist environments, and is most active during rainfall or high humidity. It stays underground during hot periods and freezes.
endangered species
in California
. Logging and damming have reduced its habitat
Other prominent amphibian
s within the range of Plethodon stormi include the Rough-skinned Newt
, Taricha granulosa.
Klamath River
The Klamath River is an American river that flows southwest through Oregon and northern California, cutting through the Cascade Range to empty into the Pacific Ocean. The river drains an extensive watershed of almost that stretches from the high desert country of the Great Basin to the temperate...
in northern California and southern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. It is a close relative of the Del Norte Salamander
Del Norte Salamander
The Del Norte Salamander is a species of salamander in the Plethodontidae family.It is endemic to the United States. Adults are 2 3/8 - 3 inches long from snout to vent, and 4 1/3 - 6 inches in total length. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and rocky areas.It is threatened by habitat...
, and some herpetologists
Herpetology
Herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians and reptiles...
believe it may be a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of that animal.
Description
The Siskiyou Mountains salamander is rich brown in color with white speckles. It is approximately 9 cm (4 in) long, not counting the tail, which is variable in length. Like all of the plethodontidsLungless salamander
The Plethodontidae, or Lungless salamanders, are a family of salamanders. Most species are native to the western hemisphere, from British Columbia to Brazil, although a few species are found in Sardinia, Europe south of the Alps, and South Korea...
it lacks lungs and respires through its moist skin. It is nocturnal, prefers cool, moist environments, and is most active during rainfall or high humidity. It stays underground during hot periods and freezes.
Conservation
Plethodon stormi, the Siskiyou Mountains salamander, is an IUCN Red ListIUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Logging and damming have reduced its habitat
Other local amphibians
In 2005 researchers discovered through genetic analysis that a larger, darker variant of this salamander is in fact a separate species. It has been named the Scott Bar salamander (Plethodon asupak).Other prominent amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
s within the range of Plethodon stormi include the Rough-skinned Newt
Rough-skinned Newt
The rough-skinned newt is a North American newt known for its strong poison.- Toxicity :Many newts produce toxins to avoid predation, but the toxins of the genus Taricha are particularly potent...
, Taricha granulosa.