The Fourche Mountain salamander (''Plethodon fourchensis'') is a species of

salamander Salamanders are a group of amphibians typically characterized by their lizard-like appearance, with slender bodies, blunt snouts, short limbs projecting at right angles to the body, and the presence of a tail in both larvae and adults. All ten ...

in the family Plethodontidae

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to the Ouachita Mountains in the central United States. Its natural

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

is temperate

forest A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...

s and it is threatened by

habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...

Description

The Fourche Mountain salamander has a sturdier body shape than most of the other salamander species in the locality. Its back is black with two rows of irregular grey blotches and a speckling of smaller pale spots. The underside is dark with a few lighter spots and the chin is pale.

Distribution and habitat

The Fourche Mountain salamander only occurs in the Fourche Mountains, the Shut-In Mountains, and the eastern side of Iron Fork Mountain in the Ouachita Mountain range in

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the Osage ...

and eastern

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

. It is found in deciduous woodland high in the mountains especially in ravines and on north-facing slopes. It sometimes hybridizes with the Rich Mountain salamander (''P. ouachitae'') where their ranges overlap on the western side of Fourche Mountain.

Biology

The Fourche Mountain salamander hides in undergrowth and under rocks and logs. It mainly feeds at night on small invertebrates such as insects, spiders, and worms. Between May and September when the weather is hot and dry, it may

aestivate Aestivation ( la, aestas (summer); also spelled estivation in American English) is a state of animal dormancy, similar to hibernation, although taking place in the summer rather than the winter. Aestivation is characterized by inactivity and a ...

underground, emerging to forage during any wet periods that may occur. It probably hibernates between November and March. Little is known of its breeding habits, but they are likely to be similar to the Rich Mountain salamander. The eggs are laid in underground chambers and brooded by the female, no aqueous larval stage exists and direct development takes place into juvenile salamanders. Females may breed in the fall or winter in alternate years. Once considered part of ''P. ouachitae, Plethodon fourchensis'' was described in 1979 based on genetic differences and geographical distinction''.''

Status

The Fourche Mountain salamander is listed as near threatened in the

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book, founded in 1964, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biologi ...

. Within its range, it is often locally abundant, but its restricted distribution make it susceptible to disturbance and habitat degradation. Some protection is provided because its entire range occurs within the Ouachita National Forest.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1594278 Plethodon Salamander, Fourche Mountain Salamander, Fourche Mountain Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Amphibians described in 1979