Red Hills salamander

Phaeognathus hubrichti

SUBFAMILY

Desmognathinae

TAXONOMY

Phaeognathus hubrichti Highton, 1961, 3 mi (4.8 km) northwest of McKenzie on US Route 31, Butler County, Alabama, United States.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

None known.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

This large, dark, elongate animal has a large head with protrusive eyes, short legs, a very long trunk, and a relatively short, round tail. They exceed 10 in (25 cm) in length and are the longest desmognathine.

DISTRIBUTION

This species is known only from a small part (Red Hills region) of southern Alabama.

HABITAT

The Red Hills salamander occurs in ravines in mature forests with closed canopies. These are fossorial salamanders that construct burrows in rich, friable soil.

BEHAVIOR

The species stays underground by day but partly emerges from its retreats at night to forage.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

This salamander feeds mainly on small arthropods and snails.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

This is a strictly terrestrial species and it lays large, yolky eggs.

CONSERVATION STATUS

The Red Hills salamander is classified as Endangered and is protected by federal law. It occupies a special habitat that is very limited in extent, and the greatest threat is deforestation and associated disturbances.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.