{"elementGlobalId":100311,"circumscripConfidence":{"id":1,"circumscripConfidenceDescEn":"1 - Strong","circumscripConfidenceDescEs":"1 - Fuerte","circumscripConfidenceDescFr":"1 – Forte"},"classificationLevel":{"id":7,"classificationLevelNameEn":"Species","classificationLevelNameEs":"Especies","classificationLevelNameFr":"Espèce"},"classificationStatus":{"id":1,"classificationStatusDescEn":"Standard","classificationStatusDescEs":"Estándar","classificationStatusDescFr":"Standard"},"iucn":{"id":11,"iucnDescEn":"Least concern","iucnDescEs":"Menos preocupante","iucnDescFr":"Moins préoccupante","iucnCode":"LC"},"nameCategory":{"id":1,"nameCategoryDescEn":"Vertebrate Animal","nameCategoryDescEs":"Animal vertebrado","nameCategoryDescFr":"Animal vertébré","nameTypeCd":"A","nameTypeDesc":"Zoological"},"rankMethodUsed":null,"formattedScientificName":"<i>Plethodon websteri</i>","scientificName":"Plethodon websteri","scientificNameAuthor":"Highton, 1979","primaryCommonName":"Webster's Salamander","relatedItisNames":"<i>Plethodon websteri</i> Highton, 1979 (TSN 173673)","uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100311","elcode":"AAAAD12210","conceptRefFullCitation":"Frost, D. R. 1985. Amphibian species of the world. A taxonomic and geographical reference. Allen Press, Inc., and The Association of  Systematics Collections, Lawrence, Kansas. v + 732 pp.","conceptName":"<i>Plethodon websteri</i>","taxonomicComments":"<i>Plethodon websteri</i> formerly was confused with the <i>P. dorsalis</i> group, specifically the species now recognized as <i>P. ventralis</i>; the two species are morphologically similar but genetically distinct (Highton 1986). Feist et al. (2019) suggested on the basis of mtDNA analysis that the nominal species may be composed of two lineage-species and that it is genetically distant from <i>P. welleri</i> and not part of that group (Frost 2020).","roundedGRank":"G3","conservationStatusFactorsEditionDate":"2011-05-06","conservationStatusFactorsEditionAuthors":"Clausen, M. K., and G. Hammerson","primaryCommonNameLanguage":"EN","recordType":"SPECIES","elementNationals":[{"elementNationalId":164986,"classifConfidence":null,"nation":{"id":225,"nameEn":"United States","nameEs":"Estados Unidos","nameFr":"États-Unis","isoCode":"US","region":"United States"},"roundedNRank":"N3","elementSubnationals":[{"elementSubnationalId":310067,"subnation":{"id":2,"nameEn":"Alabama","nameEs":"Alabama","nameFr":"Alabama","subnationCode":"AL","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"S3","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"S3","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":310067,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":290275,"subnation":{"id":32,"nameEn":"Mississippi","nameEs":"Mississippi","nameFr":"Mississippi","subnationCode":"MS","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"S2","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"S2","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":290275,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":346378,"subnation":{"id":14,"nameEn":"Georgia","nameEs":"Georgia","nameFr":"Géorgie","subnationCode":"GA","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"SU","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"SU","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":346378,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":408240,"subnation":{"id":23,"nameEn":"Louisiana","nameEs":"Louisiana","nameFr":"Louisiane","subnationCode":"LA","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"S1","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"S1","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":408240,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":290215,"subnation":{"id":48,"nameEn":"South Carolina","nameEs":"Carolina del Sur","nameFr":"Caroline du Sud","subnationCode":"SC","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"S2","dataSensitive":{"id":1,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"Yes","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"Y"},"dataSensitiveCategory":{"id":4,"dataSensitiveCategoryDescEn":"Fragile species or habitat","dataSensitiveCategoryDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveCategoryDescFr":null,"nsStandardInd":true},"srank":"S2","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":290215,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}}],"nrankReviewYear":2011,"nrank":"N3N4","speciesNational":{"elementNationalId":164986,"exotic":false,"native":true}}],"lastModified":"2026-10-02T21:33:13.35996Z","lastPublished":"2026-10-02T21:32:08.892226Z","promotionalDescription":null,"conceptLineageSummary":null,"nsxUrl":"/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100311/Plethodon_websteri","grankAdjustmentReasons":null,"grankChangeDate":"2011-05-06","grankReviewDate":"2011-05-06","grankReasons":"Occurs disjunctly in five states of southeastern U.S.; stable to possibly declining in different areas of the range; moderately threatened by loss and degradation of habitat due to urbanization and silvicultural practices, but persists in second growth forest in most parts of the range.","grank":"G3G4","rankInfo":{"elementGlobalId":100311,"aooPercentGood":null,"enviromentalSpecificity":{"id":9,"enviromentalSpecificityDescEn":"Moderate to broad.","enviromentalSpecificityDescEs":"Moderado a amplio.","enviromentalSpecificityDescFr":"De modéré à vaste."},"intrinsicVulnerability":{"id":4,"intrinsicVulnerabilityDescEn":"Moderately vulnerable","intrinsicVulnerabilityDescEs":"Moderadamente vulnerable","intrinsicVulnerabilityDescFr":"Moyennement vulnérable"},"longTermTrend":{"id":33,"longTermTrendDescEn":"Decline of <50% to Relatively Stable","longTermTrendDescEs":"Disminución de <50% a relativamente estable","longTermTrendDescFr":"Diminution de <50 % à relativement stable"},"numberEos":{"id":13,"numberEosDescEn":"81 - 300","numberEosDescEs":"De 81 a 300","numberEosDescFr":"De 81 à 300"},"numberGoodEos":null,"numberProtEos":{"id":10,"numberProtEosDescEn":"Several (4-12) occurrences appropriately protected and managed","numberProtEosDescEs":"Unos pocos casos (4 a 12) protegidos y debidamente controlados","numberProtEosDescFr":"Quelques occurrences (de 4 à 12) protégées et contrôlées convenablement"},"popSize":{"id":35,"popSizeDescEn":"100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals","popSizeDescEs":"De 100.000 a >1.000.000 de individuos","popSizeDescFr":"De 100 000 à >1 000 000 individus"},"rangeExtent":{"id":30,"rangeExtentDescEn":"20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)","rangeExtentDescEs":"De 20.000 a 200.000 kilómetros cuadrados (aproximadamente 8.000 a 80.000.000 millas cuadradas)","rangeExtentDescFr":"De 20 000 à 200 000 km carrés (de 8 000 à 80 000 000 miles carrés approximativement)"},"shortTermTrend":{"id":37,"shortTermTrendDescEn":"Decline of <30% to relatively stable","shortTermTrendDescEs":"Disminución de <30% a relativamente estable","shortTermTrendDescFr":"Diminution de <30 % à relativement stable"},"threatImpactAssigned":{"id":8,"threatImpactAssignedDescEn":"Medium","threatImpactAssignedDescEs":"Medio","threatImpactAssignedDescFr":"Moyen"},"rangeExtentComments":"Discontinuous range includes east-central Alabama and adjacent Georgia, with scattered, isolated populations in western South Carolina (Greenwood, Edgefield, and McCormick counties), southwestern Alabama, southern Louisiana, and Mississippi (Conant and Collins 1991, Highton 1986, Dundee and Rossman 1989, Herp Rev. 22:62; Petranka 1998). Occupies less than 10 acres in Louisiana (S. Shively, pers. comm., 1997). Elevational range is mostly or entirely below 400 meters.","areaOfOccupancy":null,"areaOfOccupancyComments":null,"numberEosComments":"Number of occurrences has not been determined using standardized criteria but likely there are at least several dozen. One documented site in excellent condition in Louisiana (S. Shively, pers. comm., 1997). Four sites mapped in Georgia, based on publication \"Distribution of Amphibians and Reptiles in Georgia\" (R. MacBeth, pers. comm., 1997). In Alabama, an estimated 101+ extant localities; difficult to distinguish from <i>P. dorsalis</i>, and the two species' distributions overlap; this may result in an overestimate of population numbers; condition of populations estimated to be 30% excellent, 20% good, 20% fair, and 30% poor (M. Bailey, pers. comm., 1997). Thirty-nine localities from 1980-1995 documented in South Carolina; estimated 21-100 extant populations; extensively surveyed in the mid-1980s (S. Bennett, pers. comm., 1997).","popSizeComments":"Total adult population size is unknown but likely exceeds 100,000. In the localized areas where it occurs, this species typically is abundant (Camp, in Jensen et al. 2008).","viabilityComments":"Probably many occurrences have good viability.","threatImpactComments":"Deforestation and the conversion of deciduous forest to pine monocultures maintained on short harvesting cycles have adversely impacted many populations (Petranka 1998). The species is moderately threatened by development and silviculture in Alabama (M. Bailey, pers. comm., 1997). It is at least moderately adaptable to habitat degradation; it persists in second growth forest in most parts of its present range (Beamer, pers. comm., 2003). The rocky, often rugged terrain usually inhabited by this species generally is not suitable for conversion to row-crop agriculture and so escaped the widespread deforestation associated with Georgia's former cotton-based economy (Camp, in Jensen et al. 2008).","shortTermTrendComments":"Stable in Louisiana and South Carolina (S. Bennett and S. Shively, pers. comm., 1997). Possibly declining due to loss of habitat in Alabama (M. Bailey, pers. comm., 1997).","longTermTrendComments":"Likely relatively stable in extent of occurrence; likely has declined in population size, area of occurrence, and number/condition of occurrences, but the level of decline is unknown.","inventoryNeeds":"Clarify distribution and population numbers in Alabama and South Carolina, review global rank; according to Conant and Collins (1991), the majority of the distribution is in Alabama and Georgia, yet South Carolina reports a high number of occurrences. Monitor known populations to determine trends.","numberProtEosComments":"At least one location is protected in Louisiana (S. Shively, pers. comm., 1997) and one in Mississippi (Natchez Trace Parkway, a unit of the US National Park Service, Mann and Mann 2017). The species likely is adequately protected in at least several other areas (various state parks, nature preserves, and national forests).","protectionNeeds":"Protect best existing EOs from further destruction and/or degradation.","otherConsiderations":null,"intrinsicVulnerabilityComments":null,"enviromentalSpecificityComments":null},"animalCharacteristics":{"elementGlobalId":100311,"majorHabitat":{"id":3,"majorHabitatDescEn":"Terrestrial","majorHabitatDescEs":"Terrestre","majorHabitatDescFr":"Terrestre"},"nonMigrant":false,"localMigrant":true,"longDistanceMigrant":false,"mobilityMigrationComments":"At least some populations migrate to rocky outcrops (that provide oviposition sites and protection from summer heat) in the spring and leave them in the fall (Mann and Mann 2017).","foodHabitsComments":"See Camp and Bozeman (1981, Brimleyana (6):163-166).","animalPhenologyComments":"Active in forest litter October-May. Apparently inactive underground in other months, even after heavy rains (Semlitsch and West 1983).","colonialBreeder":false,"length":8,"width":null,"weight":null,"animalPhenologies":[],"animalFoodHabits":[{"animalCagFoodHabitsId":101491,"foodHabits":{"id":3,"foodHabitsDescEn":"Invertivore","foodHabitsDescEs":"Invertívoro","foodHabitsDescFr":"Invertivore","displayOrder":3},"adult":true,"immature":true}]},"occurrenceDelineations":[{"eoSpecsDetailId":1234,"locationUseClass":{"id":1,"locationUseClassDescEn":"Not applicable","locationUseClassDescEs":"No se aplica","locationUseClassDescFr":"Sans objet","displayOrder":1},"eoSpecGroupName":"Terrestrial Plethodontid Salamanders","subtypes":null,"inferredExtentDistance":0.1,"inferredExtentNotes":null,"minimumEoCriteria":"Occurrences are based on evidence of historical presence, or current and likely recurring presence, at a given location. Such evidence minimally includes collection or reliable observation and documentation of one or more individuals (including eggs) in or near appropriate habitat where the species is presumed to be established and  breeding.","mappingGuidance":null,"separationBarriers":"Busy highway, especially with high traffic volume at night; major river or lake; other totally inappropriate habitat that the salamanders cannot traverse.","separationDistanceUnsuitableHabitatat":1.0,"separationDistanceSuitableHabitatat":3.0,"altSeparationProcedure":null,"separationJustification":"These salamanders rarely successfully cross roadways that have heavy traffic volume at night, when most movements occur. Rivers and lakes pose formidable impediments to movement and generally function as barriers, with the effect increasing with river and lake size. Treatment of these as barriers or unsuitable habitat is a subjective determination.<br><br>Compared to larger ambystomatid salamanders, the movements of plethodontids are poorly documented, but it is clear that home ranges tend to be very small (e.g., Marvin 2001), on the order of a few meters to a few dozen meters in diameter. For example, Welsh and Lind (1992) found that over six months, 66% of Plethodon elongatus males and 80% of females recaptured were in the same 7.5 x 7.5 m grid, and the maximum distance moved was 36.2 m. D. Clayton (pers. comm 1998) estimated that average home ranges may be  as small as one square meter. Yet, on occasion, dispersing plethodontids likely travel at least several hundred meters. The separation distance for unsuitable habitat reflects the nominal minimum value of 1 km. The separation distance for suitable habitat reflects the limited movements of these salamanders, tempered by their tendency to occur throughout patches of suitable habitat and the likely low probability that two locations separated by a gap of less than a few kilometers of suitable habitat would represent independent occurrences over the long term.<br>","versionDate":"2004-09-10","versionAuthor":"Hammerson, G.","versionNotes":null,"lastModified":"2020-04-30T02:04:00.737752Z"}],"plantCharacteristics":null,"elementManagement":{"elementGlobalId":100311,"eoManagementGroupName":null,"stewardshipOverview":"The most effective management strategy includes maintenance of natural stands of deciduous forest and avoidance of intensive forest management practices.","impacts":null,"restorationPotential":null,"siteConservationPlansConsidered":null,"managementMethods":null,"monitoringMethods":null,"managementProgramContacts":null,"monitoringProgramContacts":null,"managementResearchPrograms":null,"managementResearchNeeds":null,"biologicalResearchNeeds":"Better information on current status and trends is needed.","additionalTopics":null},"occurrenceViabilities":[{"eoRankSpecsDetailId":101892,"eoRankSpecsGroupName":null,"locationUseClass":{"id":1,"locationUseClassDescEn":"Not applicable","locationUseClassDescEs":"No se aplica","locationUseClassDescFr":"Sans objet","displayOrder":1},"excellentViability":null,"goodViability":null,"fairViability":null,"poorViability":null,"viabilityJustification":"Use the Generic Guidelines for the Application of Occurrence Ranks (2008).<br>The Key for Ranking Species Occurrences Using the Generic Approach provides a step-wise process for implementing this method.","versionDate":null,"versionAuthor":null,"versionNotes":null,"lastModified":"2020-05-14T02:15:36.593731Z"}],"references":[{"id":117174,"citation":"Bailey, M. Alabama Natural Heritage Program, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of Lands, Folsom Administration Building, Montgomery, Alabama","shortCitationAuthor":"Bailey","shortCitationYear":null,"referenceCode":"PNDBAI01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:21.960287Z"},{"id":132821,"citation":"Bennett, S. Coordinator, South Carolina Trust, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Columbia, South Carolina. Personal communication.","shortCitationAuthor":"Bennett","shortCitationYear":null,"referenceCode":"PNDBEN01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:15.475829Z"},{"id":112779,"citation":"Blackburn, L., P. Nanjappa, and M. J. Lannoo. 2001. An Atlas of the Distribution of U.S. Amphibians. Copyright, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA.","shortCitationAuthor":"Blackburn et al.","shortCitationYear":2001,"referenceCode":"B01BLA01EHUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:24.173666Z"},{"id":104608,"citation":"Conant, R. and J. T. Collins. 1991. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 450 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Conant and Collins","shortCitationYear":1991,"referenceCode":"B91CON01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:51.303794Z"},{"id":943912,"citation":"Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]","shortCitationAuthor":"Crother","shortCitationYear":2017,"referenceCode":"B17CRO01EHUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:53.413199Z"},{"id":132381,"citation":"Dundee, H. A., and D. A. Rossman. 1989. The amphibians and reptiles of Louisiana. Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge.","shortCitationAuthor":"Dundee and Rossman","shortCitationYear":1989,"referenceCode":"B89DUN01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:01.663271Z"},{"id":1101959,"citation":"Feist, S., T. Mann, S. P. Graham, J. A. Wooten, C. Toyota, D. L. Mann, M. Balius, C. Polanco, P. Wolwehender, and J. Moore. 2019. A morphologically cryptic salamander reveals additional hidden diversity: evidence for ancient genetic divergence in Webster’s salamander, <i>Plethodon websteri</i>. Conservation Genetics 20:947-960.","shortCitationAuthor":"Feist et al.","shortCitationYear":2019,"referenceCode":"A19FEI01NAUS","lastModified":"2021-07-03T03:51:11.928544Z"},{"id":119796,"citation":"Frost, D. R. 1985. Amphibian species of the world. A taxonomic and geographical reference. Allen Press, Inc., and The Association of  Systematics Collections, Lawrence, Kansas. v + 732 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Frost","shortCitationYear":1985,"referenceCode":"B85FRO01HQUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:24.173666Z"},{"id":1054360,"citation":"Frost, D.R. 2020. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Online: http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.html","shortCitationAuthor":"Frost","shortCitationYear":2020,"referenceCode":"W20FRO02NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T19:41:47.447453Z"},{"id":133358,"citation":"Highton, R. 1986. <i>Plethodon websteri</i>. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 384:1-2.","shortCitationAuthor":"Highton","shortCitationYear":1986,"referenceCode":"A86HIG01NAUS","lastModified":"2026-06-06T01:38:33.688149Z"},{"id":1047254,"citation":"Highton, R., A. P. Hatings, C. Palmer, R. Watts, C. A. Hass, M. Culver, and S. J. Arnold. 2012. Concurrent speciation in the eastern woodland salamanders (genus <i>Plethodon</i>): DNA sequences of the complete albumin nuclear and partial mitochondrial 12s genes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 63:278–290.","shortCitationAuthor":"Highton et al.","shortCitationYear":2012,"referenceCode":"A12HIG01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:22:18.969361Z"},{"id":626339,"citation":"Jensen, J. B., C. D. Camp, W. Gibbons, and M. J. Elliot, editors. 2008. Amphibians and reptiles of Georgia. University of Georgia Press, Athens. xvii + 575 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Jensen et al.","shortCitationYear":2008,"referenceCode":"B08JEN01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:31.710698Z"},{"id":139946,"citation":"MacBeth, R. Heritage Zoologist, Georgia Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife Resource Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle, GA Personal communication.","shortCitationAuthor":"MacBeth","shortCitationYear":null,"referenceCode":"PNDMAC03NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:18.897744Z"},{"id":130436,"citation":"Mahoney, M. J. 2001. Molecular systematics of <i>Plethodon </i>and <i>Aneides </i>(Caudata: Plethodontini): phylogenetic analysis of an old and rapid radiation. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 18:174-188.","shortCitationAuthor":"Mahoney","shortCitationYear":2001,"referenceCode":"A01MAH01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:53.397371Z"},{"id":1108348,"citation":"Mann, T.M., and D.L. Mann. 2017. Seasonal migration by a terrestrial salamander, <i>Plethodon websteri</i> (Webster’s salamander). Herpetological Conservation and Biology 12:96-108.","shortCitationAuthor":"Mann and Mann","shortCitationYear":2017,"referenceCode":"A17MAN01NAUS","lastModified":"2022-01-11T02:15:46.760027Z"},{"id":124025,"citation":"Martof, B. S., W. M. Palmer, J. R. Bailey, and J. R. Harrison, III. 1980. Amphibians and reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 264 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Martof et al.","shortCitationYear":1980,"referenceCode":"B80MAR01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:53.397371Z"},{"id":120174,"citation":"Mount, R. H. 1975. The reptiles and amphibians of Alabama. Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn, Alabama. vii + 347 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Mount","shortCitationYear":1975,"referenceCode":"B75MOU01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:56.616394Z"},{"id":1153425,"citation":"Nicholson, K. E. (ed.). 2025. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Ninth Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 87 pp. Online database available at: https://cnah.org/SSARnames.aspx","shortCitationAuthor":"Nicholson","shortCitationYear":2025,"referenceCode":"B25NIC01NAUS","lastModified":"2026-06-06T01:36:32.018241Z"},{"id":113869,"citation":"Petranka, J. W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.","shortCitationAuthor":"Petranka","shortCitationYear":1998,"referenceCode":"B98PET01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:53.397371Z"},{"id":112698,"citation":"Semlitsch, R. D., and C. A. West. 1983. Aspects of the life history and ecology of Webster's salamander, <i>Plethodon websteri</i>. Copeia 1983:339-346.","shortCitationAuthor":"Semlitsch and West","shortCitationYear":1983,"referenceCode":"A83SEM01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:31.710698Z"},{"id":142544,"citation":"Shively, Stephen H. Zoologist. Louisiana Natural Heritage Program, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Baton Rouge, LA. Personal communication.","shortCitationAuthor":"Shively","shortCitationYear":null,"referenceCode":"PNDSHI02NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:31.710698Z"}],"otherCommonNames":[{"id":145603,"name":"Webster's salamander","language":"EN"}],"speciesGlobal":{"elementGlobalId":100311,"cites":null,"cosewic":null,"fwsRegion":null,"genusSize":{"id":4,"genusSizeDescEn":"Medium to large genus","genusSizeDescEs":"Género de mediano a grande","genusSizeDescFr":"Moyen à grand genre"},"jurisEndem":{"id":3,"jurisEndemDescEn":"endemic to a single nation","jurisEndemDescEs":"Endémico de una nación","jurisEndemDescFr":"Endémique à une nation"},"nomenclaturallyEst":null,"usesa":null,"informalTaxonomy":{"informalTaxonomyId":3,"level1":"Animals","level2":"Vertebrates","level3":"Amphibians","level":3,"hasChildren":false,"parentId":2,"distributionStatus":"complete","displayOrder":1060},"parentSpecies":null,"infraspecies":false,"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Craniata","taxclass":"Amphibia","taxorder":"Caudata","family":"Plethodontidae","genus":"Plethodon","americanFisheriesStatus":null,"americanFisheriesStatusDate":null,"saraStatus":null,"saraStatusDate":null,"cosewicDate":null,"interpretedCosewic":null,"cosewicComments":null,"usesaDate":null,"interpretedUsesa":null,"usesaComments":null,"completeDistribution":true,"synonyms":[],"infraspeciesList":[],"ebarId":null,"ebarCanadianScope":false,"ebarGlobalScope":false,"ebarKbaGroup":"Amphibians and Reptiles","caGeneralStatusId":null},"speciesCharacteristics":{"elementGlobalId":100311,"reproductionComments":"Courtship and insemination probably occur between January and March; gravid females have average of 5.8 (3-8) enlarged ovarian follicles; eggs laid June or July, hatch August or September; first reproduction at age 21-26 months; females reproduce annually (South Carolina, Semlitsch and West 1983).","ecologyComments":null,"habitatComments":"This salamander inhabits mesophytic forest, often mixed pine/hardwood, sometimes relatively early successional forest (maple, hickory, oak, poplar, and elm) bordering rocky feeder streams; usually found under logs, bark, and leaf litter on the forest floor and along rocky stream beds (unless inundated). For their oversummering subterranean, oviposition refugia, they prefer accessible, fissured, shallowly buried rock. Terrestrial breeder.","generalDescription":"A small salamander with variable coloration. Color morphs may include a striped form (wavy yellowish brown to orangish red dorsal stripe extends from the head to the end of the tail), an unstriped form that may have scattered red pigmentation on the dorsum, and individuals with intermediate coloration; all color morphs have tiny silvery white spots and brassy flecks that give the salamander a \"frosted\" appearance (Petranka 1998).","diagnosticCharacteristics":"The southern zigzag salamander is basically identical to <i>Plethodon dorsalis</i> in external appearance, although in <i>P. </i><i>webster</i>i the dorsal stripe tends to be wavy only on the front half of the body (<i>P. dorsalis</i> may also show this trait) (Petranka 1998). The two species are best distinguished by geographic distribution and electrophoretic characteristics (Petranka 1998).","speciesMarineHabitats":[],"speciesTerrestrialHabitats":[{"cagTerrHabId":-104651,"terrestrialHabitat":{"id":1,"terrestrialHabitatDescEn":"Forest - Hardwood","terrestrialHabitatDescEs":"Bosque - Madera dura","terrestrialHabitatDescFr":"Forêt — Feuillu","displayOrder":2}},{"cagTerrHabId":-115356,"terrestrialHabitat":{"id":17,"terrestrialHabitatDescEn":"Bare rock/talus/scree","terrestrialHabitatDescEs":"Roca viva/pendiente de roca/piedras sueltas","terrestrialHabitatDescFr":"Éboulis","displayOrder":20}}],"speciesRiverineHabitats":[],"speciesPalustrineHabitats":[],"speciesLacustrineHabitats":[],"speciesSubterraneanHabitats":[],"speciesEstuarineHabitats":[]},"primaryReference":{"id":1153425,"citation":"Nicholson, K. E. (ed.). 2025. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Ninth Edition. 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