Herpetology Notes, volume 10: 181-182 (2017) (published online on 25 April 2017)

Tail bifurcation in a Northern Dusky Salamander, Desmognathus fuscus (Caudata: Plethodontidae)

Sean M. Hartzell1,*

Tail bifurcation, a condition in which a portion of species Bolitoglossa heiroreias, Plethodon cinereus the tail duplicates after mechanical damage, typically and P. glutinosus (Henle et al., 2012; Medina-Florez resulting from attempted predation, is occasionally and Townsend, 2014). Henle et al. (2012) report no observed in lizards (e.g., Cordes and Walker, 2013; references concerning tail bifurcation in the genus Tamar et al., 2013; Passos et al., 2014; Pheasey et Desmognathus, suggesting the observation reported al., 2014). However, few reports have appeared in herein may be novel for D. fuscus and potentially the literature regarding tail bifurcations in natural for the genus Desmognathus. While the cause of tail populations of post-larval amphibians (Henle et al., bifurcation observed in the D. fuscus is unknown, likely, 2012). Henle et al. (2012) exhaustively reviewed the this arose from damage during a predation attempt, as literature and reported 19 references documenting post has been suggested in cases of tail bifurcation in other larval tail bifurcation in 13 salamander species among salamanders (Henle et al., 2012). eight genera (Ambystoma, Plethodon, Chioglossa, Cynops, Lissotriton, Notophthalmus, Salamandra, and Triturus). More recently, Medina-Florez and Townsend (2014) reported tail bifurcation in Bolitoglossa heiroreias. Herein, I report an observation of tail bifurcation in Desmognathus fuscus (Rafinesque, 1820) a semiaquatic salamander native to the eastern United States and portions of extreme southeastern Canada (Petranka, 1998). On 22 December 2016 at 1200 h, a young, post-larval Desmognathus fuscus (ca. 3 cm total length) bearing a tail bifurcation (Fig 1) was incidentally observed, photographed, and released within a small spring seep in a mixed deciduous forest near Danville, Montour Co., Pennsylvania, USA (40.9616oN, 76.6119oW; WGS 84). The salamander had a small tail bifurcation occurring approximately two-thirds from the base of the individual’s tail (Fig. 2). Previous literature reports of tail bifurcation in the Plethodontidae include the

1 Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania 17815, USA * Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]. Figure 1. Desmognathus fuscus with tail bifurcation from edu eastern Pennsylvania. 182 Sean M. Hartzell

Figure 2. Dorsal view of Desmognathus fuscus with tail bifurcation.

Acknowledgements. I thank Brian S. Gray for confirming the salamander species identity and for comments and suggestions on this manuscript.

References

Cordes J.E, Walker J.M. (2013): Aspidoscelis velox (Plateau Striped Whiptail) bifurcation. Herpetological Review 44: 319. Henle, K., Mester, B., Lengyel, S., Puky, M. (2012): A review of a rare type of anomaly in amphibians, tail duplication and bifurcation, with description of three new cases in European Species (Triturus dobrogicus, Triturus carnifex, and Hyla arborea). Journal of Herpetology 46: 451-455. Medina-Florez, M., Townsend, J.H. (2014): Bolitoglossa heiroreias. Tail bifurcation. Mesoamerican Herpetology 1: 154-155. Passos, D., Pinheiro, L.T., Galdino, C.A.B., Rocha, C.F.D. (2014): Tropidurus semitaeniatus (Calango de Lagedo) tail bifurcation. Herpetological Review 45: 138. Petranka, J.W. (1998): Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Washington D.C., USA, Smithsonian Press. Pheasey, H., Smith, P., Brouard, J.P., Atkinson, K. (2014): Vanzosaura rubricauda (Red-tailed Vanzosaur) bifurcation and trifurcation. Herpetological Review 45: 138-139. Tamar K., Maza E., Meiri S. (2013): Acanthodactylus boskianus (Bosk’s Fringe Fingered Lizard) bifurcation. Herpetological Review 44: 135-136.

Accepted by Yunke Wu