Coeur D'Alene salamander
| Coeur d'Alene salamander | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Plethodontidae |
| Subfamily: | Plethodontinae |
| Genus: | Plethodon |
| Species: | P. idahoensis |
| Binomial name | |
|
Plethodon idahoensis Slater & Slipp, 1940 |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Plethodon vandykei idahoensis |
|
Plethodon vandykei idahoensis
The Coeur d'Alene salamander (Plethodon idahoensis) is a species of woodland salamander (Plethodon) in the family of lungless salamanders (Plethodontidae) found in northern Idaho, western Montana, and southeastern British Columbia. This species was discovered in 1939 by James R. Slater and John W. Slipp on the south shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho. It was once considered to be a subspecies of Van Dyke's salamander, as P. vandykei idahoensis, but appears to be a distinct and separate species as originally suggested by Slater and Slipp (1940).
P. idahoensis specimens are slender salamanders 2–4 in (51–102 mm) long. The adult has a nasolabial groove, parotoid glands, and parasphenoid teeth. Coloration and markings key to characterizing this species include a dark ground color with a yellow-gold dorsal stripe that extends the length of the organism, as well as ventral yellow patches on the throat. The toes of the Coeur d'Alene salamander are shorter than those of the long-toed salamander, which aids in distinguishing the two species.
The eggs of the Coeur d'Alene salamander have a unique appearance, as well. They are not pigmented and occur in grape-like clusters, attached by a single thread.
While the majority of this species is localized in northern Idaho, some instances of capture/sighting in western Montana and southeastern British Columbia have occurred. About 95% of observed populations in Idaho and Montana have been verified extant since 1987; the remainder may have [extirpated], but with a general lack of knowledge on the population trends of the Coeur d'Alene salamander.
The majority of known specimens has been observed in the St. Joe and North Fork Clearwater River basins, but they also occur in the Selway, Kootenai, and Moyie drainages.
The preferred territory of P. idahoensis is in the corridors of stream riparian zones, in the splash zone of waterfalls, near seeps and springs, or in stream-side scree. Specimens are usually associated with fractured rock formations in moist environments, often localized around fresh, moving water.
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Wikipedia