Plethodon albagula

Taxobox
name = Western Slimy Salamander
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Lissamphibia
ordo = Caudata
familia = Plethodontidae
genus = "Plethodon"
species = "P. albagula"
binomial = "Plethodon albagula"
binomial_authority = Grobman, 1944
synonyms = "Plethodon glutinosus albagula"
Grobman, 1944

The Western Slimy Salamander ("Plethodon albagula") is a species of salamander found in two disjunct populations in the United States, one from Missouri to Oklahoma, and Arkansas, and another in south-central Texas. It is sometimes referred to as the Whitethroat Slimy Salamander, because it was once considered to be a subspecies of the Northern Slimy Salamander, "Plethodon glutinosus".

Description

The Western Slimy Salamander is typically black in color with white speckling. On some specimens the white speckling turns into large white blotches along the sides of the body. They have large bulbous eyes, and a long tail.

Behavior

Primarily nocturnal, it is commonly found under rocks, or other ground debris in moist wooded areas. Eggs are laid in damp protected locations. The species has no aquatic larval stage.

References

* [http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/references.php?id=22619 Amphibian Species of the World: "Plethodon albagula"]
* [http://pick5.pick.uga.edu/mp/20q?search=Plethodon+albagula Discover Life: "Plethodon albagula"]
* [http://www.amphibiaweb.org/cgi-bin/amphib_query?query_src=aw_lists_genera_&table=amphib&where-genus=Plethodon&where-species=albagula AmphibiaWeb: Western Slimy Salamander]
* [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/59329/summ IUCN Red List: "Plethodon albagula"] [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/rangemap.php?species=59329 Range
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