Cumberland Plateau Salamander

Plethodon kentucki

Cumberland Plateau Salamander

CPSA

Status

The Cumberland Plateau Salamander is relatively common throughout its range.

Description

The Cumberland Plateau Salamander is a medium-sized (9.8–16.8 cm), black salamander with small scattered white spots on its dorsum and larger white spots on its sides. The chin is lighter than the rest of the slate gray venter. Normally, it has 16 costal groves.

Distribution

Plethodon kentucki is found in eastern Kentucky, northeastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia and in West Virginia west of the New and Kanawha rivers.

Habitat

This salamander inhabits hardwood slopes and ridges of the Cumberland Plateau from 250–1240 meters in elevation. It seeks shelter under or within rotting logs, under rocks, and buried within the leaf litter.

Special Requirements

It requires mesic hardwood forests on the ridges of the Cumberland Plateau.

Breeding Habits

Little is known about the breeding habits of this salamander. Eggs are deposited terrestrially under logs, rocks or litter. The female apparently remains with the eggs until hatching. They have direct development, with hatchlings being miniature replicas of the adult.

Food Habits

The diet is primarily comprised of small invertebrates including spiders, insects, and earthworms.

Management Suggestions

Habitat for this species should include logs in various stages of decay and a well developed leaf litter humus. Some canopy closure is necessary to prevent excessive drying of the forest floor.

Additional References

Highton 1986h; Highton and MacGregor 1983; Maha and others 1983.