Virginian salamander [1] ( lat. Plethodon nettingi ) is a species of caudate amphibian of the genus Forest salamander ( Plethodon ) of the family Pulmonary salamander ( Plethodontidae ), which is found only in the Chitsky mountains and in the area of several nearby mountains on the mountains of West Virginia . The population of the species was reduced to threatened size as a result of the destruction of its native red- forest forests, as well as as a result of pollution, drought, forest damage by storms and competition with other salamanders, especially with its relative, the red-backed salamander ( Plethodon cinereus ).
| Virgin salamander |
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| Scientific classification |
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| No rank : | Bilateral symmetrical |
| Family: | Lungless salamanders |
| Subfamily : | Plethodontinae |
| Gender: | Forest lungless salamanders |
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| International scientific name |
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Plethodon nettingi Green , 1938 |
| Synonyms |
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- Plethodon richmondi nettingi
Highton & Grobman , 1956 - Plethodon nettingi nettingi Thurow , 1968
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| Security status |
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Close to vulnerableIUCN 3.1 Near Threatened : 17627 |
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Initially, the range of the Virginian salamanders was probably limited to the red-green forests of the mountains of West Virginia. Most of these forests were cut down in 1920 , but some were preserved in combination with mixed deciduous forests that replaced red spruce forests. They are inhabited by the Allegan birch ( Betula alleghaniensis ), large-leaved beech ( Fagus grandifolia ), sugar maple ( Acer saccharum ), pencilvan maple ( Acer pensylvanicum ), and Canadian tsuga ( Tsuga canadensis ). The appearance of the salamander, however, does not depend on any particular type of vegetation, but is often associated with stony fields, rock outcrops, or steep, shaded ravines lined with rhododendrons ( Rhododendron ). It is possible that they were protected in these shelters when the original forests were cut and burned in some areas. As a rule, they were located where the earthen cover consists of bryophytes ( mosses , liver mosses , etc.), especially mosses of the genus Bazzania and fallen leaves, fallen logs and branches.
