Conservation Status of the Southern Appalachian Herpetofauna 1 Joseph C
Virginia Journal of Science Volume 50, Number 1 Spring 1999 Conservation Status of The Southern Appalachian Herpetofauna 1 Joseph C. Mitchell, Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA 23173, Thomas K Pauley, Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25755, David I. Withers, Division of Natural Heritage, TN Department of Environment and Conservation, 401 Church St., 8th Floor L&C Tower, Nashville, TN 37243, Steven M. Roble, VA Department of Conservation & Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, 217 Governor St.,Richmond, VA 23219, Brian T. Miller, Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, Alvin L. Braswell, North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences, P.O. Box 29555, Raleigh, NC 27626, Paul V. Cupp, Jr., Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY 40475, and Christopher S. Hobson, VA Department of Conservation & Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage,217 Governor St., Richmond, VA 23219 ABSTRACT Seventy one species of amphibians (55 salamanders, 16 anurans) and 46 species of reptiles (15 turtles, 8 lizards, 23 snakes) inhabit a five state area (Kentucky, Nort:11 Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia) in the south ern Appalachian region bordered by the Potomac River, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the western margin of the Appalachian Plateau. Of these, 4 7.9% of the amphibian fauna and 52.2% of the reptilian fauna are listed as being of conservation concern by federal, state, and Natural Heritage pro grams in all or a portion of their ranges in this region. The Shenandoal1 salamander (Plethodon shenandoah) is listed as Endangered and the Cheat Mountain salamander (Plethodon nettingi) is listed as Threatened under the U.S.
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