Talladega seal salamander

Talladega seal salamander
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Urodela
Family:	Plethodontidae
Subfamily:	Plethodontinae
Genus:	Desmognathus
Species:	D. cheaha
Binomial name
Desmognathus cheaha Pyron and Beamer, 2023

The Talladega seal salamander (Desmognathus cheaha) is a mid-sized stream-dwelling plethodontid salamander native to the Southeastern United States. This species was split from the common seal salamander (Desmognathus monticola) in 2022. ^[1]

Distribution and habitat

The Talladega seal salamander can be found in the U.S. States of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. This species occurs in the Ridge & Valley, Piedmont, and Coastal/Southeastern Plains physiographic provinces, in contrast with Desmognathus monticola, which predominantly occurs in the Appalachian highlands. ^[1] The only known population in Florida is believed to have undergone a dramatic population decline, and may be extirpated, after nearby logging activities impacted stream habitat. ^[2]

The Talladega seal salamander occurs in streams throughout its range. Populations in the Coastal Plain appear to be restricted to high-gradient streams and microhabitats in contact with rock and flowing water. ^{[3] [1]}

References

1. Pyron, R Alexander; O'Connell, Kyle A; Duncan, Sophie C; Burbrink, Frank T; Beamer, David A (2023-05-19). Carstens, Bryan C (ed.). "Speciation Hypotheses from Phylogeographic Delimitation Yield an Integrative Taxonomy for Seal Salamanders ( Desmognathus monticola )" . Systematic Biology. 72 (1): 179–197. doi:10.1093/sysbio/syac065. ISSN   1063-5157. PMID   36169600.
2. Holzheuser, Chace R.; Means, D. Bruce (2021). "Decline of the Seal Salamander, Desmognathus monticola, in Florida, USA" (PDF). Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 16 (3): 506–512.
3. Folkerts, G. W. (1969). "The Genus Desmognathus, Baird, (Amphibia: Plethodontidae) in Alabama". Ph.D. Dissertation. Auburn University.