Golden shovel-nosed salamander

The golden shovel-nosed salamander (Desmognathus aureatus) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to the United States.[2]

Golden shovel-nosed salamander
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Plethodontidae
Subfamily: Plethodontinae
Genus: Desmognathus
Species:
D. aureatus
Binomial name
Desmognathus aureatus
(Martof, 1956)

It was described in 1956 but was later reclassified as synonymous with the shovelnose salamander (D. marmoratus). However, a 2009 mtDNA study found sufficient genetic divergence to again classify as its own species.[3] It is not recognized by other taxonomic authorities due to it being distinguished by mtDNA studies and problems with mtDNA introgression in the genus Desmognathus, but it is still recognized by Darrel Frost pending publication of counter-evidence.[4][5]

It is found in the Chattahoochee, Tallulah, and Chattooga river basins of Georgia and adjacent parts of South Carolina.[2]

References

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  1. ^ IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2023). "Desmognathus aureatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023: e.T200106818A200106828. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T200106818A200106828.en. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Desmognathus aureatus (Martof, 1956) | Amphibian Species of the World". amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  3. ^ Dubois, Alan; Raffaëlli, Jean (March 2009). "A new ergotaxonomy of the family Salamandridae Goldfuss, 1820 (Amphibia, Urodela)".
  4. ^ "AmphibiaWeb - Desmognathus marmoratus". amphibiaweb.org. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  5. ^ "Desmognathus marmoratus (Moore, 1899) | Amphibian Species of the World". amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org. Retrieved 2021-12-23.