What Is Alabama's State Animal Red Hill Salimander

Geographic Range

The geographic range of Red Hills salamanders (Phaeognathus hubrichti) is restricted to the Cherry-red Hills region of due south central Alabama, The states. They have been documented in merely vi counties in the country of Alabama (Covington, Crenshaw, Monroe, Butler, Barbour, Conecuh). The Alabama River demarcates the species' western-most boundary and the Conecuh River demarcates their eastern-most boundary. Although they appear to reside in adjacent areas to the north and southward, their fossorial tendencies make their geographic range hard to verify. The total surface area that is occupied by Red Hills salamanders is estimated to be approximately 25,500 hectares. (Brandon, 1965; Dodd, 1991; Gunzburger and Guyer, 1998; Jordan and Mount, 1975; Parham, et al., 1996; Schwaner and Mount, 1970; Smith, 1978; State of Alabama, 2010)

• nearctic
  • native

Habitat

Phaeognathus hubrichti prefers the soft-soiled hills of the Crimson Hills expanse and seeks out slopes on mesic ravines that are moist, soft and loamy. It also prefers burrow under full canopy of hardwood trees on relatively loftier and steep ridges sloping down into deadening, shallow streams. Most P. hubrichti burrows are found in the middle of such slopes, every bit this location is the least likely to be affected by erosion. It is oftentimes found in abandoned burrows of other ground-home species, as it cannot dig effectively itself. If an abased burrow is besides small-scale, it suit the size of the burrow by wiggling into the hole and rolling inside the pigsty until it is big enough for the salamander'southward use. Phaeognathus hubrichti burrows are approximately forty mm wide with a distinctive oval shape. This species is plant at an boilerplate tiptop of 170 m. (Brandon, 1965; Brandon, 1966; Dodd, 1991; Gunzburger and Guyer, 1998; Jordan and Mount, 1975; Parham, et al., 1996; Schwaner and Mount, 1970; Smith, 1978)

• temperate

• forest

• Average meridian

  170 one thousand

  557.74 ft

Physical Description

Male Red Hills salamanders range from 180 to 220 mm in length, whereas females range in length from 190 to 230 mm. Males tin can weigh up to 22 g, but almost weigh between 7 and 15 k. Females are considerably lighter, weighing between half dozen and 12 yard, with a maximum of 14 g. Crimson Hills salamanders vest to the Plethodontinae family unit, and therefore are lungless and breath through their moist pare. The skin is nighttime brown in colour with an occasional light spot interspersed effectually its trunk, specifically around the facial region. Some larger males have have pale spots on either side of their trunk, at the base of their tail. Although Red Hills salamanders are significantly longer than their relatives, they have much smaller limbs. The inductive limbs are approximately 11 mm in length and accept 4 toes, and the posterior limbs are approximately 14 mm in length and have 5 toes. They have between 20 and 22 costal grooves along the mid-section, which is significantly more than about salamanders. Crimson Hills salamanders, similar other plethodons, have fixed lower jaws, and barely visible nasolabial grooves on their snouts that assist in chemo-reception. Late term pregnant females have eggs that are clearly visible through her peel along each side of her mid-department. (Bakkegard and Guyer, 2004; Brandon, 1965; Donsky and Boyer, 2010; Highton, 1961; Mcknight, et al., 1991; Means, 2003; Schwaner and Mountain, 1970; Smith, 1978)

• ectothermic
• heterothermic
• bilateral symmetry

• sexes shaped differently

• Range mass

  5 to 20 g

  0.18 to 0.seventy oz

• Average mass

  xi g

  0.39 oz

• Range length

  160 to 250 mm

  6.30 to 9.84 in

Development

Cherry Hills salamanders sexually mature by 100 mm in length, which is approximately 5 to half-dozen years of age for females. Males mature by 80 mm in length, which take every bit little every bit one year for males. One time eggs hatch, young are like in appearance to adults, with the exception of their brilliant red gills, which are laterally positioned betwixt the head and forelimbs. Like their adult counterparts, immature too have labial folds, but no eyelids. About 10 days after hatching, young undergo metamorphosis, during which they grow eyelids, lose their labial folds, and reabsorb their gills. Almost individuals metamorphose at about 37 mm in length and may have some paleness along the ventral surface after metamorphosis. (Bakkegard and Guyer, 2004; Brandon, 1965; Ways, 2003; Smith, 1978; Tilley and Bernardo, 1993)

• metamorphosis

Reproduction

There is no information available regarding the mating system of Phaeognathus hubrichti. (Bakkegard and Guyer, 2004; Brandon, 1965)

Phaeognathus hubrichti males get reproductively mature in less than a twelvemonth, whereas females accept approximately half dozen years to reach reproductive maturity. Phaeognathus hubrichti mates one time per year. In one case mated, females acquit fertilized eggs in their oviducts for approximately 20 days. Eggs are and then laid during June or July. After being laid, eggs incubate for some other 60 days and then are attached to the walls of the burrow in a infinite that is moist, but not wet. Information technology typically takes around twenty days for young to hatch and emerge. Females hatch an boilerplate of 7 offspring per breeding cycle. Niggling else is known of the reproductive behavior of this species. (Means, 2003)

• iteroparous
• seasonal convenance
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes divide)
• sexual
• fertilization
  • internal
• oviparous

• Breeding interval

  <<Phaeognathus hubrichti>> mates once per year.

• Breeding season

  Phaeognathus hubrichti lays its eggs in belatedly June-July.

• Average number of offspring

  seven

• Boilerplate fourth dimension to hatching

  xx days

• Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)

  6 years

• Boilerplate historic period at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)

  <1 years

Phaeognathus hubrichti mothers stay close to their eggs during development. If the eggs are disturbed, she may ingest them to prevent losing the free energy invested in their development. When carrying fertilized eggs, females aggresively defend themselves by biting. Once the eggs are laid, even so, she is relatively less aggressive. Paternal care is thought to be not-existent in this species. There is no farther information on parental intendance in P. hubrichti. (Means, 2003)

• female parental intendance
• pre-hatching/birth
  • protecting
    • female

Lifespan/Longevity

Red Hills salamanders live for approximately eleven years in the wild, which is determined past counting growth rings on limb bones. They are exceptionally rare and at that place are no records indicating the average lifespan of captive individuals. However, one female person specimen lived for over 6 years in captivity and was able to lay eggs prior to beingness released. (Bakkegard and Guyer, 2004; Parham, et al., 1996)

• Average lifespan
  Condition: captivity

  six years

• Average lifespan
  Status: wild

  11 years

Behavior

Phaeognathus hubrichti is notoriously elusive and was not discovered until 1961. It remains at the entrance of its burrows for up to 12 hours a night, and retreats into its couch during the mean solar day. It hunts only at night and rarely travels extended distances from its couch in search of casualty. When escaping predators, it has an effective torso-curlicue method that allows it to speedily maneuver through its burrow. (Bakkegard and Guyer, 2004; Bakkegard, 2002; Bakkegard, 2005; Brandon, 1965; Gunzburger and Guyer, 1998; Gunzburger, 1999; Valentine, 1963)

• fossorial
• nocturnal
• motile
• sedentary
• territorial

Home Range

There is no information on the boilerplate dwelling range size of Crimson Hills salamanders. They agressively defend their burrow, and use a unique head-butting technique when defending the entrance to the den. When caput-butting, individuals thrust themselves from their burrows with their minor limbs, driving their head into the intruder. The intruder is startled upon impact and is knocked out of the entrance and down the hill the burrow was created on. This technique is most effective on intruders that are smaller or of comparable size. (Bakkegard and Guyer, 2004; Bakkegard, 2002; Bakkegard, 2005; Dodd, 1990; Dodd, 1991; Gunzburger and Guyer, 1998; Gunzburger, 1999)

Communication and Perception

There is trivial information available regarding communication and perception in Phaeognathus hubrichti. This species likely does not communicate audibly; nevertheless, nasolabial grooves on the snout are thought to assist in chemoreception, and the interior groove is lined with glands. Although individuals are thought to aggressively defend burrows, there is no information to ostend this. Numerous male person specimens are documented as having bite marks, suggesting aggressive interactions with conspecifics, perhaps as a result of competition for mates or burrows. (Brandon, 1965; Highton, 1961; Ways, 2003; Schwaner and Mount, 1970)

• visual
• chemic

• visual
• tactile
• chemical

Food Habits

Red Hills salamanders are primarily insectivorous, and gut content analyses take revealed a preference for spiders, earthworms, millipedes, beetles, mites and fly larvae. In some instances, they have been seen foraging on snails and molted snake skins. Other foods include fungus and detritus. (Brandon, 1965; Gunzburger, 1999)

• carnivore
  • eats eggs
  • insectivore
  • eats non-insect arthropods
  • molluscivore
  • vermivore
  • scavenger

• eggs
• insects
• terrestrial not-insect arthropods
• mollusks
• terrestrial worms

• mucus
• detritus

Predation

Primary predators of Red Hills salamanders are idea to include various species of bird, snakes, and mammals such equally coyotes and badgers. When threatened past a potential predator, Red Hills salamanders bare their teeth and may attempt to strike. They are too known to "caput-barrel" burrow intruders. When head-butting, individuals thrust themselves from their burrows with their small limbs, driving their caput into the intruder. The intruder is startled upon bear on and is knocked out of the entrance and down the hill the burrow was created on. This technique is most effective on intruders that are smaller or of comparable size. If captured, an individual may gyrate in a round blueprint like to that of a snake, attempting to loosen the attacker'southward grip. Its primary form of defence force, yet, is to remain inside its burrow as much as possible. (Bakkegard and Guyer, 2004; Bakkegard, 2002; Bakkegard, 2005; Brandon, 1965; Gunzburger and Guyer, 1998; Valentine, 1963)

• cryptic

• Known Predators

  • birds, (Aves)
  • snakes, (Serpentes)
  • mammals, (Mammalia)
  • coyotes, (Canis latrans)
  • badgers, (Taxidea taxus)

Ecosystem Roles

Phaeognathus hubrichti is an important casualty detail for a number of different vertebrate species, including diverse species of snakes, mammals, birds, other amphibians. In addition, this species is insectivorous and my help control a diversity of insect pest species. In that location is no data available regarding potential parasites of this species. (Brandon, 1965; Brandon, 1966; Donsky and Boyer, 2010; Gunzburger, 1999; Country of Alabama, 2010)

• soil aeration

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

There are no known positive effects of Phaeognathus hubrichti on humans. (Highton, 1961; Hashemite kingdom of jordan and Mount, 1975; Tilley and Bernardo, 1993; Valentine, 1963)

• research and education

Economical Importance for Humans: Negative

At that place are no known adverse effects of Phaeognathus hubrichti on humans. (Dodd, 1991; Gunzburger and Guyer, 1998)

Conservation Status

Red Hills salamanders are classified every bit "endangered" on the IUCN'due south Carmine List of Threatened Species and has been protected by the United States Endangered Species Act as "threatened" since 1976. This species is found only in south central Alabama and is listed as a protected not-game species by the land of Alabama. Greater than forty% of potential habitat is owned or managed past pulp corporations, and although it does non occur in any officially protected habitat, a petty more than half dozen hectares have been set bated by private and public ownership to support the conservation and management of this species. Unfortunately, evidence suggests that Red Hills salamanders exercise not readily re-populate reforested areas, making their recovery significantly more than hard. In 2010, the United States Nature Conservancy purchased 723 hectares of the Red Hills Conservation Expanse in guild to support the long-term protection of this species. The Nature Conservancy, the State of Alabama and the U.s.a. Fish and Wildlife Service, continue to work together to protect areas of salamander habitat from potential degradation. (Dodd, 1991; Donsky and Boyer, 2010; Gunzburger and Guyer, 1998; Jordan and Mount, 1975)

• IUCN Red Listing

  Endangered
  More than information

• IUCN Ruby List

  Endangered
  More information

• US Federal List

  Threatened

• CITES

  No special condition

• State of Michigan Listing

  No special status

Contributors

Chance Reinhart (author), University of Alberta, Augustana Campus, Doris Audet (editor), University of Alberta, Augustana Campus, John Berini (editor), Animal Diversity Web Staff.

Glossary

Nearctic

living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south equally the highlands of primal United mexican states.

bilateral symmetry

having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one airplane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.

carnivore

an animal that mainly eats meat

chemical

uses smells or other chemicals to communicate

cryptic

having markings, coloration, shapes, or other features that cause an beast to be inconspicuous in its natural surroundings; existence hard to see or otherwise detect.

detritus

particles of organic material from dead and decomposing organisms. Detritus is the result of the activity of decomposers (organisms that decompose organic material).

ectothermic

animals which must utilise rut acquired from the environment and behavioral adaptations to regulate torso temperature

female parental care

parental intendance is carried out by females

fertilization

union of egg and spermatozoan

wood

forest biomes are dominated past trees, otherwise forest biomes tin vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.

fossorial

Referring to a burrowing life-style or beliefs, specialized for digging or burrowing.

heterothermic

having a body temperature that fluctuates with that of the immediate environment; having no mechanism or a poorly developed machinery for regulating internal body temperature.

insectivore

An animal that eats mainly insects or spiders.

internal fertilization

fertilization takes place within the female's body

iteroparous

offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).

metamorphosis

A large change in the shape or structure of an animal that happens as the animal grows. In insects, "incomplete metamorphosis" is when immature animals are similar to adults and alter gradually into the adult form, and "consummate metamorphosis" is when there is a profound change between larval and adult forms. Butterflies accept complete metamorphosis, grasshoppers take incomplete metamorphosis.

molluscivore

eats mollusks, members of Phylum Mollusca

motile

having the capacity to move from one place to some other.

native range

the expanse in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.

nocturnal

agile during the night

oviparous

reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the female parent'southward body.

scavenger

an creature that mainly eats dead animals

seasonal convenance

breeding is confined to a particular season

sedentary

remains in the same area

sexual

reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female person

soil aeration

digs and breaks up soil so air and h2o tin can arrive

tactile

uses touch to communicate

temperate

that region of the Globe between 23.five degrees N and threescore degrees Northward (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.five degrees South and 60 degrees S (betwixt the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circumvolve).

territorial

defends an expanse inside the home range, occupied by a single animals or group of animals of the aforementioned species and held through overt defense, brandish, or advertising

threatened

The term is used in the 1994 IUCN Reddish Listing of Threatened Animals to refer collectively to species categorized as Endangered (Eastward), Vulnerable (V), Rare (R), Indeterminate (I), or Insufficiently Known (K) and in the 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals to refer collectively to species categorized equally Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), or Vulnerable (VU).

visual

uses sight to communicate

References

Bakkegard, K. 2002. Activity Patterns of Red Hills Salamanders (Phaeognathus hubrichti) at Their Couch Entrances. Copeia, Vol. 2002/ No. 3: pp. 851-856. Accessed Oct 13, 2010 at http://world wide web.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1643/0045-8511(2002)002%5B0851%3AAPORHS%5D2.0.CO%3B2.

Bakkegard, M. 2005. Antipredator Behaviors of the Blood-red Hills Salamander, Phaeognathus hubrichti. Southeatern Naturalist, Vol. 4/ No.one: pp. 23-32. Accessed October fourteen, 2010 at http://world wide web.jstor.org/stable/3878155.

Bakkegard, Yard., C. Guyer. 2004. Sexual Size Dimorphism in the Red Hills Salamander, Phaeognathus hubrichti (Caudata: Plethodontidae: Desmognathinae). Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 38/ No. ane: pp. viii-15. Accessed October thirteen, 2010 at http://www.jstor.org/stable/1566080.

Brandon, R. 1966. Amphibians and Reptiles Associated with Phaeognathus hubrichti Habitats. Herpetologica, Vol. 22/ No. 4: 308-310. Accessed Oct 14, 2010 at http://world wide web.jstor.org/stable/3891357.

Brandon, R. 1965. Morphological Variation and Ecology of the Salamander Phaeognathus hubrichti. Copeia, Vol. 1965/No. ane: pp. 67-71. Accessed October 13, 2010 at http://world wide web.jstor.org/stable/1441241.

Dodd, Yard. 1990. Line Transect Estimation of Reddish Hills Salamander Burrow Density Using a Fourier Serial. Copeia, Vol. 1990/No. ii: pp. 555-557. Accessed Oct 13, 2010 at http://www.jstor.org/stable/1446359.

Dodd, K. 1991. The condition of the Cerise Hills salamander Phaeognathus hubrichti, Alabama, Us, 1976–1988. Biological Conservation, Vol. 55/ No. 1: pp. 57-75. Accessed Oct thirteen, 2010 at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V5X-48XKJ8P-5H&_user=1067472&_coverDate=12%2F31%2F1991&_rdoc=i&_fmt=loftier&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1498512298&_rerunOrigin=scholar.google&_acct=C000051251&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1067472&md5=29bd1bac697f13a71e3daee9e4cd2841&searchtype=a.

Donsky, A., R. Boyer. 2010. "Nature Salvation Land Purchase Could Salvage Alabama'due south Red Hills Salamander" (On-line). Accessed November 11, 2010 at http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/04/nature-conservancy-land-purchase-could-save-alabama-cerise-hills-salamander.php?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29.

Gunzburger, One thousand. 1999. Nutrition of the Red Hills Salamander Phaeognathus hubrichti. Copeia, Vol. 1999/ No. two: pp. 523-525. Accessed October 13, 2010 at http://www.jstor.org/stable/1447504.

Gunzburger, M., C. Guyer. 1998. Longevity and Abandonment of Burrows Used by the Ruby Hills Salamander (Phaeognathus hubrichti). Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 32/ No. 4: pp. 620-623. Accessed October 13, 2010 at http://www.jstor.org/stable/1565226.

Highton, R. 1961. A New Genus of Lungless Salamander from the Coastal Plain of Alabama. Copeia, Vol. 1961/ No.1: pp. 65-68. Accessed October thirteen, 2010 at http://world wide web.jstor.org/stable/1440175.

Hashemite kingdom of jordan, R., R. Mountain. 1975. The Status of the Red Hills Salamander, Phaeognathus hubrichti Highton. Journal of Herpetology, Vol. ix/ No. ii: pp. 211-215. Accessed Oct 13, 2010 at http://world wide web.jstor.org/stable/1563039.

Mcknight, M., K. Dodd, C. Sposlky. 1991. Protein and Mitochondrial Dna Variation in the Salamander Phaeognathus hubrichti. Herpetologica, Vol. 47/ No. 4: pp. 440-447. Accessed October 13, 2010 at http://world wide web.jstor.org/stable/3892849.

Means, B. 2003. "Notes on the Reproductive Biology of the Alabama Blood-red Hills Salamander (Phaeognathus hubrichti )" (On-line). Contemporary Biology. Accessed October xiii, 2010 at http://www.contemporaryherpetology.org/ch/2003/3/.

Parham, J., K. Dodd, G. Zug. 1996. Skeletochronological Historic period Estimates for the Cherry Hills Salamander, Phaeognathus hubrichti. Periodical of Herpetology, Vol. 30/ No. 3: pp. 401-404. Accessed October 13, 2010 at http://world wide web.jstor.org/stable/1565178.

Schwaner, T., R. Mount. 1970. Notes on the Distribution, Habits, and Ecology of the Salamander Phaeognathus hubrichti Highton. Copeia, Vol. 1970/ No. 3: pp. 571-573. Accessed October 13, 2010 at http://world wide web.jstor.org/stable/1442289.

Smith, H. 1978. A Guide to Field Identification: Amphibians of North America. Racine, Wisconsin: Western Publishing Company.

Country of Alabama, 2010. "Official Amphibian: Red Hills Salamander" (On-line). Official Symbols and Emblems of Alabama. Accessed November 11, 2010 at http://www.archives.country.al.united states of america/emblems/st_amphib.html.

Tilley, S., J. Bernardo. 1993. Life History Development in Plethodontid Salamanders. Herpetologica, Vol. 49/ No. 2: pp. 154-163. Accessed October thirteen, 2010 at http://www.jstor.org/stable/3892792.

Valentine, B. 1963. The Plethodontid Salamander Phaeognathus: Collecting Techniques and Habits. Journal of Ohio Herpetological Society, Vol.4/ No. i\2: pp. 49-54. Accessed October 13, 2010 at http://www.jstor.org/stable/1562580.

Source: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Phaeognathus_hubrichti/

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