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Black Shovel-nosed Salamander
The black shovel-nosed salamander (''Desmognathus melanius'') is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is Endemism, endemic to the United States. It was described in 1956 but was later reclassified as synonymous with the shovelnose salamander (''D. marmoratus''). However, a 2009 Mitochondrial DNA, mtDNA study found sufficient genetic divergence to again classify as its own species. It is not recognized by other taxonomic authorities due to it being distinguished by mtDNA studies and problems with mtDNA introgression in the genus ''Desmognathus'', but it is still recognized by Darrel Frost pending publication of counter-evidence. It is found in the Nantahala River basin of western North Carolina and adjacent Tennessee. References Desmognathus Amphibians described in 1956 Endemic amphibians of the United States {{Plethodontidae-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. Other ways of defining species include their karyotype, DNA sequence, morphology, behaviour or ecological niche. In addition, paleontologists use the concept of the chronospecies since fossil reproduction cannot be examined. The most recent rigorous estimate for the total number of species of eukaryotes is between 8 and 8.7 million. However, only about 14% of these had been described by 2011. All species (except viruses) are given a two-part name, a "binomial". The first part of a binomial is the genus to which the species belongs. The second part is called the specific name or the specific epithet (in botanical nomenclature, also sometimes i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
