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Description

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Plethodon elongatus is a medium-sized terrestrial salamander. Compared to other species of Plethodon in the Pacific Northwest they are long and slender, with a modal number of 18 costal grooves (Brodie and Storm 1971; Petranka 1998). Adults are 6 - 7.5 cm snout to vent length (11 - 15 cm total length) (Stebbins 1985; Petranka 1998). The limbs are relatively short and the toes are short and slightly webbed (Brodie and Storm 1971; Stebbins 1985). Dorsal coloration is dark brown or black, with a reddish or reddish-brown straight-edged mid-dorsal stripe. The stripe may extend from head to tip of tail, but may be less pronounced in older animals. The venter is dark gray, with throat light gray and mottled (Petranka 1998). White or yellow flecks are concentrated on the sides, dorsal surface of the limbs, and gular (throat) region. These flecks are sparser on the head and venter, and rarely on the dorsal surface (Brodie and Storm 1971). Males are slightly larger than females and have a mental gland, a raised region on the chin used in courtship (Petranka 1998). With age, the jaw closing muscles become more pronounced and the region behind the eyes has a distinct bulge (D. B. Wake, pers. comm.). Hatchlings are about 18 mm snout to vent length and they have a more distinct dorsal stripe than adults (Brodie and Storm 1971; Petranka 1998).Some authors recognize the Siskiyou Mountains salamander, P. stormi, as a subspecies of the Del Norte salamander (e.g. Stebbins 1985). Currently these are recognized as two separate species (e.g. Petranka 1998), but a detailed examination of geographic variation in morphology and genetics for both species is necessary to resolve this issue. See another account at californiaherps.com (http://www.californiaherps.com/salamanders/pages/p.elongatus.html).

References

  • Brodie, E. D., Jr., and Storm, R. M. (1971). ''Plethodon elongatus Van Denburgh. Del Norte Salamander.'' Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, 102.1-102.2.
  • Diller, L. V., and Wallace, R. L. (1994). ''Distribution and habitat of Plethodon elongatus on managed, young growth forests in Northern Coastal California.'' Journal of Herpetology, 28(3), 310-318.
  • Welsh, H. H., Jr., and Lind, A. J. (1992). ''Population ecology of two relictual salamanders from the Klamath Mountains of northwestern California.'' Wildlife 2001: Populations. McCullough, D.R., and R.H. Barrett, eds., Elsevier Applied Science, New York., 419-437.
  • Welsh, H.H., Jr., and Lind, A. J. (1995). ''Habitat correlates of the Del Norte Salamander (Plethodon elongatus) (Caudata: Plethodontidae), in northwestern California.'' Journal of Herpetology, 29(2), 198-210.

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Meredith J. Mahoney
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Distribution and Habitat

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This species is limited to moist coastal forests in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon (Brodie and Storm 1971; Petranka 1998). Individuals are usually found in damp areas of stabilized talus slopes, especially on north-facing slopes; may also be found under logs, bark, or other forest floor refugia (Brodie and Storm 1971; Diller and Wallace 1994). Occurance of salamanders is significantly correlated with older forests with closed, multi-storied canopy and the presence of rocky substrates dominated by cobble-sized pieces (Welsh and Lind 1995). The absence of a range overlap with the ecologicaly similar P. vehiculum suggests that interactions between the two species may affect their respective distributions (Stebbins 1951).
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Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors

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Like other members of the genus Plethodon, P. elongatus is completely terrestrial through all stages of its life history; courtship, mating, and egg deposition occur on land. There is no free living larval stage, and juveniles hatch completely metamorphosed (Stebbins 1985; Petranka 1998). Courtship has never been observed, although mating probably occurs in fall and winter (Welsh and Lind 1992; Petranka 1998). Fertilization occurs by means of a spermatophore deposited on the substrate by the male and picked up in the cloaca by the female (Duellman and Trueb 1986). Females lay eggs in spring or early summer, and attend the eggs until hatching in the late summer or early fall (Leonard et al. 1993; Jockusch and Mahoney 1997; Petranka 1998). Clutch size, ranges from 3 - 11, average 8 (Stebbins 1951; Nussbaum et al. 1983; Welsh and Lind 1992). The diet consists of small invertebrates including isopods, mites, spiders, hemipterans, beetles, hymenopterans, lepidopterans, and centipedes. Predators have not been documented, but probably include small snakes and mammals, and woodland birds (Petranka 1998). When uncovered or attacked individuals of P. elongatus remain immobile (Brodie 1977).
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Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors

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In sufficiently wet areas, populations of P. elongatus do not appear to be negatively affected by logging (Diller and Wallace 1992). In these regions Del Norte salamanders inhabit various successional stages. However, in areas with less fog and annual precipitation, salamander numbers decline sharply following logging (Welsh and Lind 1988; 1991). Old growth forests may represent an optimal habitat (Welsh and Lind 1995). Due to continuing logging activities, populations of P. elongatus are becoming increasingly fragmented and isolated (Welsh and Lind 1992).
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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

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Maximum longevity: 13.3 years (captivity)
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Del Norte salamander

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The Del Norte salamander (Plethodon elongatus) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae endemic to the United States in southwestern Oregon and northwestern California.[1][2][3]

Description

Plethodon elongatus is a medium-sized, slender salamander. Adults are 6–7.5 cm (2.4–3.0 in) from snout to vent, and 11–15 cm (4.3–5.9 in) in total length. Limbs are relatively short; toes are short and slightly webbed. Dorsal coloration is dark brown or black. A reddish or reddish-brown straight-edged mid-dorsal stripe may extend from the head to the tip of the tail; the stripe may be less pronounced in older animals.[3]

Life history

P. elongatus is a fully terrestrial salamander. Clutch size is three to 11 eggs (mean eight). No free-living larval stage exists, and juveniles hatch completely metamorphosed, measuring about 18 mm (0.71 in) in snout–vent length.[3]

Habitat and conservation

The species occurs in areas of moist talus and rocky substrates in redwood or Douglas fir forests. It is typically encountered among moss-covered rocks or under bark and other forest litter, usually avoiding very wet areas.[1]

The Del Norte salamander is locally abundant in suitable habitat. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by logging.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2022). "Plethodon elongatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T59339A118994428. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  2. ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2021). "Plethodon elongatus Van Denburgh, 1916". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Plethodon elongatus". AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
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Del Norte salamander: Brief Summary

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The Del Norte salamander (Plethodon elongatus) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae endemic to the United States in southwestern Oregon and northwestern California.

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