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Kentucky Salamanders of the Genus Desmognathus: Their Identification, Distribution, and Morphometric Variation
KENTUCKY SALAMANDERS OF THE GENUS DESMOGNATHUS: THEIR IDENTIFICATION, DISTRIBUTION, AND MORPHOMETRIC VARIATION A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the College of Science and Technology Morehead State University In Partial Fulfilhnent of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in Biology by Leslie Scott Meade July 24, 2000 1CAMDElJ CARROLL LIBRARY MOREHEAD, KY 40351 f'\Sl.l 11-feSfS 5q7,g'5' M 'ff I k Accepted by the Faculty of the College of Science and Technology, Morehead State University, in partial fulfillment ofthe requirements for the Master of Science Degree. ~ C ~ Director of Thesis Master's Committee: 7, -.2't-200c) Date 11 Kentucky Salamanders of the Genus Desmognathus: Their Identification, Distribution, and Morphometric Variation The objectives of this study were to ( 1) summarize the taxonomic and natural history data for Desmognathus in Kentucky, (2) compare Kentucky species and sub species of Desmognathus with regard to sexual dimorphism, (3) analyze interspecific variation in morphology of Kentucky Desmognathus, and (4) compile current range maps for Desmognathus in Kentucky. Species and subspecies examined included D. ochrophaeus Cope (Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander), D. fuscus fuscus (Green) (Northern Dusky Salamander), D. fuscus conanti Rossman (Spotted Dusky Salamander), D. montico/a Dunn (Seal Salamander), and D. welteri Barbour (Black Mountain Dusky Salamander). Salamanders were collected in the field or borrowed from museum collections. Taxonomic and natural history data for Kentucky Desmo gnathus were compiled from literature, preserved specimens, and direct observations. Morphometric characters examined included total length, snout-vent length, tail length, head length, head width, snout length, vent length, tail length/total length, snout-vent length/total length, and snout length/head length. -
Zoology SYLLABUS 2016
ST. PHILOMENA’S COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), MYSORE-570 015 Subject- ZOOLOGY Syllabus for B.A, Course under Semester Scheme. The Scheme of Teaching & Examination FROM THE ACADEMIC YEAR- 2016 Onwards Semester Title of the Paper Q. P. Code Teaching Scheme Examination Scheme Number Hours per Week Theory/ I A Total Practical Max Marks Proper Max. Marks hours Marks Theory Credits Practical Duration in in Duration MA 630 MA 631 IA T-60 T IA-10 3 I Animal Diversity I MA 632 PR-1 3 4.5 6 P-20 P IA-10 100 MA 633 PR- IA MB 630 MB 631 IA T-60 T IA-10 3 II Animal Diversity II MB632 PR-1 3 4.5 6 P-20 P IA-10 100 MB 633 PR- IA MC 630 T-60 T IA-10 MC 631 IA 3 III Animal Diversity III 3 4.5 6 P-20 P IA-10 100 MC 632 PR-1 MC 633 PR-1 MD 630 T-60 T IA-10 Biochemistry and MD 631 IA 3 IV 3 4.5 6 P-20 P IA-10 100 physiology MD 632 PR-1 MD 633 PR-1 ME 630 T IA T IA -20 Cell biology & ME 631 T IA 3 T- 80 3 4.5 6 P IA- 150 Immunology (P-5) ME 634 PR P- 40 10 ME 635 PR IA V ME 632 T IA Development biology T IA -20 ME 633 T IA 3 T- 80 & endocrinology 3 4.5 6 P IA- 150 ME 636 PR P- 40 (P-6) 10 ME 637 PR IA MF 630 T IA T IA -20 Genetics & evolution MF 631 T IA 3 T- 80 3 4.5 6 P IA- 150 (P-7) MF 634 PR P- 40 10 MF 635 PR IA VI MF 632 T IA Environmental T IA -20 MF 633 T IA 3 T- 80 Biology & Ethnology 3 4.5 6 P IA- 150 MF 636 PR P- 40 (P-8) 10 MF 637 PR IA ST. -
Revision of the Eurycea Quadridigitata
Revision of the Eurycea quadridigitata (Holbrook 1842) Complex of Dwarf Salamanders (Caudata: Plethodontidae: Hemidactyliinae) with a Description of Two New Species Author(s): Kenneth P. Wray, D. Bruce Means, and Scott J. Steppan Source: Herpetological Monographs, 31(1):18-46. Published By: The Herpetologists' League DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1655/HERPMONOGRAPHS-D-16-00011 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1655/HERPMONOGRAPHS-D-16-00011 BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences. BioOne provides a sustainable online platform for over 170 journals and books published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/terms_of_use. Usage of BioOne content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder. BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research. Herpetological Monographs, 31, 2017, 18–46 Ó 2017 by The Herpetologists’ League, Inc. Revision of the Eurycea quadridigitata (Holbrook 1842) Complex of Dwarf Salamanders (Caudata: Plethodontidae: Hemidactyliinae) with a Description of Two New Species 1,3 1,2 1 KENNETH P. WRAY ,D.BRUCE MEANS , AND SCOTT J. STEPPAN 1 Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4295, USA 2 Coastal Plains Institute and Land Conservancy, 1313 Milton Street, Tallahassee, FL 32303-5512, USA ABSTRACT: The Eurycea quadridigitata complex is currently composed of the nominate species and E. -
Amphibiaweb's Illustrated Amphibians of the Earth
AmphibiaWeb's Illustrated Amphibians of the Earth Created and Illustrated by the 2020-2021 AmphibiaWeb URAP Team: Alice Drozd, Arjun Mehta, Ash Reining, Kira Wiesinger, and Ann T. Chang This introduction to amphibians was written by University of California, Berkeley AmphibiaWeb Undergraduate Research Apprentices for people who love amphibians. Thank you to the many AmphibiaWeb apprentices over the last 21 years for their efforts. Edited by members of the AmphibiaWeb Steering Committee CC BY-NC-SA 2 Dedicated in loving memory of David B. Wake Founding Director of AmphibiaWeb (8 June 1936 - 29 April 2021) Dave Wake was a dedicated amphibian biologist who mentored and educated countless people. With the launch of AmphibiaWeb in 2000, Dave sought to bring the conservation science and basic fact-based biology of all amphibians to a single place where everyone could access the information freely. Until his last day, David remained a tirelessly dedicated scientist and ally of the amphibians of the world. 3 Table of Contents What are Amphibians? Their Characteristics ...................................................................................... 7 Orders of Amphibians.................................................................................... 7 Where are Amphibians? Where are Amphibians? ............................................................................... 9 What are Bioregions? ..................................................................................10 Conservation of Amphibians Why Save Amphibians? ............................................................................. -
Dusky Salamander Desmognathus Fuscus
WILDLIFE IN CONNECTICUT WILDLIFE FACT SHEET PAUL J. FUSCO PAUL Dusky Salamander Desmognathus fuscus Background and Range The northern dusky salamander is in the lungless salamander family (Plethodontidae). This species was historically distributed widely in streams, springs, and seepage areas throughout Connecticut. However, it has become scarce in more developed areas of the state, especially in Fairfield, New Haven, and Hartford Counties. The northern dusky salamander ranges from south Quebec and southern New Brunswick, down the Appalachians to its southernmost point in mid-South Carolina. Its western extent reaches east Indiana and the eastern half of Kentucky. In Connecticut, it is found statewide but only sparsely in New London and Fairfield counties. Description This stout, medium-sized salamander exhibits variable brown coloration with mottling, and a translucent belly that has “salt and pepper” patterning. The tail is flattened laterally, with a knife-like top edge. A small white line runs from the jaw to the eye, and a groove goes from each nostril to the jaw edge. Hind legs are noticeably larger than forelimbs. Younger individuals have a greater range in color from olive to chestnut to dark tan. Larvae possess a few pairs of yellowish spots bordered with a dark, wavy lateral line that goes along the back. Larvae can be confused with the larger two-lined salamander; however, the two-lined has less pronounced rear limbs. Habitat and Diet The northern dusky is usually found in or near freshwater, such as streams, springs, and/or areas with seepage. CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ● WILDLIFE DIVISION These sites tend to be associated with closed canopy deciduous or coniferous forests. -
Tail Bifurcation in a Northern Dusky Salamander, Desmognathus Fuscus (Caudata: Plethodontidae)
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. -
Delaware Basin: Tables 1
Delaware Table 3. Species of Greatest Conservation Need currently occurring in the Delaware Basin. Species are sorted alphabetically by taxonomic group and species common name. The Species Group designation is included, indicating which Species Group Report in the appendix will contain the full information about the species. The Stability of this basin's population is also indicated for each species. TaxaGroup Species SpeciesGroup Stability Bird American bittern Freshwater marsh nesting birds Decreasing Bird American woodcock Early successional forest/shrubland birds Decreasing Bird Bald eagle Bald Eagle Increasing Bird Bicknell's Thrush High altitude conifer forest birds Unknown Bird Black-billed cuckoo Early successional forest/shrubland birds Decreasing Bird Black-throated blue warbler Deciduous/mixed forest breeding birds Stable Bird Blue-winged warbler Early successional forest/shrubland birds Decreasing Bird Bobolink Grassland birds Decreasing Bird Brown thrasher Early successional forest/shrubland birds Decreasing Bird Canada warbler Early successional forest/shrubland birds Decreasing Bird Cerulean warbler Deciduous/mixed forest breeding birds Increasing Bird Common nighthawk Common nighthawk Decreasing Bird Cooper's hawk Forest breeding raptors Increasing Bird Eastern meadowlark Grassland birds Decreasing Bird Golden eagle Forest breeding raptors Unknown Bird Golden-winged warbler Early successional forest/shrubland birds Decreasing Bird Grasshopper sparrow Grassland birds Decreasing Bird Horned lark Grassland birds Decreasing -
About the Book the Format Acknowledgments
About the Book For more than ten years I have been working on a book on bryophyte ecology and was joined by Heinjo During, who has been very helpful in critiquing multiple versions of the chapters. But as the book progressed, the field of bryophyte ecology progressed faster. No chapter ever seemed to stay finished, hence the decision to publish online. Furthermore, rather than being a textbook, it is evolving into an encyclopedia that would be at least three volumes. Having reached the age when I could retire whenever I wanted to, I no longer needed be so concerned with the publish or perish paradigm. In keeping with the sharing nature of bryologists, and the need to educate the non-bryologists about the nature and role of bryophytes in the ecosystem, it seemed my personal goals could best be accomplished by publishing online. This has several advantages for me. I can choose the format I want, I can include lots of color images, and I can post chapters or parts of chapters as I complete them and update later if I find it important. Throughout the book I have posed questions. I have even attempt to offer hypotheses for many of these. It is my hope that these questions and hypotheses will inspire students of all ages to attempt to answer these. Some are simple and could even be done by elementary school children. Others are suitable for undergraduate projects. And some will take lifelong work or a large team of researchers around the world. Have fun with them! The Format The decision to publish Bryophyte Ecology as an ebook occurred after I had a publisher, and I am sure I have not thought of all the complexities of publishing as I complete things, rather than in the order of the planned organization. -
35 Finding of the Alpine Salamander (Salamandra Atra Laurenti, 1768; Salamandridae, Caudata) in the Nature Park Žumberak
HYLA VOL. 2011. No. 1 Str. 35-46 SHORT NOTE Finding of the Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra Laurenti, 1768; Salamandridae, Caudata) in the Nature Park Žumberak - Samoborsko gorje (NW Croatia) 1 2 3 NINA JERAN* , PETRA ĐURIĆ , KREŠIMIR ŽGANEC 1 Požarinje 69, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia, [email protected] 2 State Institute for Nature Protection, Trg Mažuranića 5, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia 3 University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia ABSTRACT This study confirms the presence of Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra) in the Nature Park Žumberak - Samoborsko gorje, where previously only one specimen was recorded in 1989. Species presence and distribution were investigated at ten different localities in stands of montane beech forest, during the vegetation season 2004. In July 2004 five individuals (four males and one female) of Alpine salamander were found in the virgin beech forest at site Kuta (about 900 m a.s.l.), during weather conditions characterized by heavy rain. This is the northernmost finding of the species in Croatia, as well as a confirmed disjunctive part of its areal in the Dinarids. Conservation measures for the species are proposed but for more precise conservation plan further research of species distribution and ecology is needed. Keywords: Alpine salamander, Salamandra atra, Nature Park Žumberak - Samoborsko gorje, distribution, amphibians 35 Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra) is a montane species occurring between 400 and 2,800 m a.s.l., but is usually found from 800 to 2,000 m a.s.l. (ARNOLD & BURTON, 1978). It inhabits mainly forests (beech, mixed deciduous and mixed deciduous-coniferous), but may also be found above the tree-line, in cool, damp alpine meadows, pastureland and other, slightly modified habitats. -
Rapid Enigmatic Decline Drives the Fire Salamander (Salamandra
Amphibia-Reptilia 34 (2013): 233-239 Rapid enigmatic decline drives the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) to the edge of extinction in the Netherlands Annemarieke Spitzen-van der Sluijs1,4,∗, Frank Spikmans1, Wilbert Bosman1, Marnix de Zeeuw2, Tom van der Meij2, Edo Goverse1,MarjaKik3, Frank Pasmans4,AnMartel4 Abstract. In the Netherlands, the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) is at the edge of its geographic range and is restricted to three small populations in the extreme south of the country. Despite the species being listed as ‘Endangered’ on the national Red List, the situation was considered to be stable. However, from 2008 onwards dead individuals were seen on more than one occasion. A sharp decline in numbers has been observed since 2010 (96%; P<0.01), but we were unable to attribute this to any known cause of amphibian decline, such as chytridiomycosis, ranavirus or habitat degradation. The present work describes this enigmatic decline, and we discuss these results in the context of possible causes. Keywords: enigmatic decline, local extinction, mortality, Salamandra salamandra, terrestrial salamanders. Introduction ranavirus (Daszak, Cunningham and Hyatt, 2003; Spitzen-van der Sluijs et al., 2010; Kik et Amphibians are experiencing declines globally, al., 2011) no specific decline has been observed. exemplified not only by population declines, However, the sudden, steep decline of the but also by range reductions and extinctions of fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra ter- some species (Houlahan et al., 2000; Stuart et restris) in the Netherlands is a new phe- al., 2004; IUCN, 2012), and they may be part nomenon. In the Netherlands, fire salamanders of a sixth major extinction event (Wake and live at the very edge of their distribution and Vredenburg, 2008), for which there is no single are confined to the old growth stages of de- cause (Blaustein et al., 2011; Hof et al., 2011). -
AMPHIBIANS of OHIO F I E L D G U I D E DIVISION of WILDLIFE INTRODUCTION
AMPHIBIANS OF OHIO f i e l d g u i d e DIVISION OF WILDLIFE INTRODUCTION Amphibians are typically shy, secre- Unlike reptiles, their skin is not scaly. Amphibian eggs must remain moist if tive animals. While a few amphibians Nor do they have claws on their toes. they are to hatch. The eggs do not have are relatively large, most are small, deli- Most amphibians prefer to come out at shells but rather are covered with a jelly- cately attractive, and brightly colored. night. like substance. Amphibians lay eggs sin- That some of these more vulnerable spe- gly, in masses, or in strings in the water The young undergo what is known cies survive at all is cause for wonder. or in some other moist place. as metamorphosis. They pass through Nearly 200 million years ago, amphib- a larval, usually aquatic, stage before As with all Ohio wildlife, the only ians were the first creatures to emerge drastically changing form and becoming real threat to their continued existence from the seas to begin life on land. The adults. is habitat degradation and destruction. term amphibian comes from the Greek Only by conserving suitable habitat to- Ohio is fortunate in having many spe- amphi, which means dual, and bios, day will we enable future generations to cies of amphibians. Although generally meaning life. While it is true that many study and enjoy Ohio’s amphibians. inconspicuous most of the year, during amphibians live a double life — spend- the breeding season, especially follow- ing part of their lives in water and the ing a warm, early spring rain, amphib- rest on land — some never go into the ians appear in great numbers seemingly water and others never leave it. -
Effects of Urbanization on Occupancy of Stream Salamanders
Contributed Paper Effects of Urbanization on Occupancy of Stream Salamanders STEVEN J. PRICE,∗†‡ KRISTEN K. CECALA,∗§ ROBERT A. BROWNE,† AND MICHAEL E. DORCAS∗ ∗Department of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28035-7118, U.S.A. †Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, U.S.A. Abstract: Urban development is the most common form of land conversion in the United States. Using a before–after control-impact study design, we investigated the effects of urbanization on larval and adult stages of southern two-lined salamanders (Eurycea cirrigera) and northern dusky salamanders (Desmognathus fuscus). Over 5 years, we estimated changes in occupancy and probabilities of colonization and survival in 13 stream catchments after urbanization and in 17 catchments that were not urbanized. We also examined effects of proportion of urbanized area in a catchment and distance of the salamander population to the nearest stream on probabilities of colonization and survival. Before urbanization, adult and larval stages of the two salamander species occupied nearly all surveyed streams, with occupancy estimates ranging from 1.0 to 0.78. Four years after urbanization mean occupancy of larval and adult two-lined salamanders had decreased from 0.87 and 0.78 to 0.57 and 0.39, respectively. Estimates of mean occupancy of larval northern dusky salamanders decreased from 1.0 to 0.57 in urban streams 4 years after urbanization; however, adult northern dusky salamander occupancy remained close to 1.0 in urban streams over 5 years. Occupancy estimates in control streams were similar for each species and stage over 5 years.