Amphibians of North Carolina
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Plethodontidae Members:
NC Records

Plethodon aureolus - Tellico Salamander

Taxonomy
Class: Amphibia Order: Caudata Family: Plethodontidae Subfamily: Plethodontinae
Taxonomic Comments: A group of wide-ranging large Plethodon species in the eastern US with a blackish ground color and varying levels of whitish or golden flecking, blotching, and spotting have traditionally been known as 'slimy salamanders' due to glutinous secretions that are produced from the tail. These were originally thought to represent a single wide-ranging species (the Slimy Salamander, Plethodon glutinosus), but were split into 16 species by Highton (Highton 1984, 1989; Highton and MacGregor 1983) and constitute the 'Plethodon glutinosus complex'. One (P. aureolus) was described in 1984 and the other (P. kentucki) was resurrected in 1983. The remainder were described by Highton (1989) and constitute a complex of geographically and genetically variable groups that are difficult to distinguishable from one another based on external phenotypic traits.

Highton (1989) analyzed geographic variation in protein patterns and split these into numerous species using an arbitrary genetic distance to define species. This resulted in a series of parapatric forms that show varying levels of gene exchange in contact zones. Frost and Hillis (1990) objected to splitting P. glutinosus into multiple species based solely on arbitrarily selected genetic distances and cited a variety of perceived problems, including several biases in estimating genetic distances. Data from studies using mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data (Fisher-Reid and Wiens 2011, Wiens et al. 2006) was used to justify keeping Highton's original taxonomy for the group. These studies sometimes relied on sequence data from a single representative individual of each species and did not carefully examine contact zones or examine levels of gene exchange between form, which Hillis (2019) argued is essential for making taxonomic decisions.

Joyce et al. (2019) analyzed multiple specimens from Alabama that represented three members of the P. glutinosus complex (P. glutinosus, P. grobmani, and P. mississippi) and concluded that these represent a single species of slimy salamander (P. glutinosus) rather than three as proposed by Highton (1989). They further argue that similar issues arise when multiple individuals have been used in studies: paraphyly is common place and the validity of several species is questionable (e.g., Smith et al. 2018, Wiens et al. 2006). To complicate matters further, members of the P. glutinosus complex show widespread evidence of historical or present gene exchange with members of the P. jordani complex (Weisrock et al. 2005). Joyce et al. (2019) recommended only recognizing three species within the P. glutinosus complex: P. aureolus, P. kentucki, and P. glutinosus. The latter would be treated as a geographically variable species that contains all of the remaining species that Highton recognized.

The taxonomic status of many members of the Plethodon glutinosus complex is clearly unresolved, and there may never be a complete resolution of the problem given that experts often embrace different taxonomic philosophies when interpreting geographic variation within a group. In addition, there is often widespread discordance in the lines of evidence used to delineate species. North Carolina may have as many as 6 members of the 16 species recognized by Highton, although two are of questionable status. These include P. aureolus, P. chattahoochee, P. chlorobryonis, P. cylindraceus, P. glutinosus and P. teyahalee. Here we continue to include all six of these forms in the North Carolina fauna, with the understanding that the taxonomic status of some may change in the future.
Species Comments:
Identification
Description: The Tellico Salamander is a small member of the P. glutinosus complex that resembles P. glutinosus in having a grayish black or black dorsum with abundant brassy spotting. The chin is light colored and the sides of the body have more concentrated white or yellow spotting. The tail is rounded in cross-section and slightly longer than the body. Sexually-active males have circular mental glands just behind the chin and the number of costal grooves averages 16. Adults range from 50-72 mm SVL and 100-151 mm TL (Highton 1986).

Plethodon aureolus occurs allopatrically with P. glutinosus that is located immediately to its west, north, and south except for one site in Polk County, Tennessee where the two species co-occur locally and do not interbreed (Highton and Peabody 2000). Most populations of P. aureolus show the typical brassy dorsal spots, but these may be reduced or absent in some individuals found at high elevations in the northeastern portion of the range where it hybridizes with P. shermani on Sassafras Ridge in the Unicoi Mountains (Highton 1983). This species coexists locally with P. teyahalee throughout its small range, and there is no evidence that the two species interbreed (Highton and Peabody 2000). Coloration and size are the best traits for separating these two species in the field.
Online Photos:    Google   iNaturalist
Observation Methods: Individuals can be found beneath surface cover during the day, and at night when they actively forage on the forest floor during favorable weather.
AmphibiaWeb Account
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution Comments: The Tellico Salamander is a narrow endemic that occurs between the Little Tennessee River and Hiwassee River on the western slopes of the Unicoi Mountains. Populations have been documented in northeastern Polk and Monroe counties, Tennessee, and in western Graham and northwestern Cherokee counties, North Carolina (Highton 1986). A recent record was also added in nearby Clay Co.
Distribution Reference: Highton (1984, 1986)
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
GBIF Global Distribution
Key Habitat Requirements
Habitat: This species occurs in mesic hardwood forests at relatively low to moderate elevations in the Unicoi Mountains, but has been found as high as 1620 m (5315') in elevation. Individuals prefer mature deciduous forests with thick leaf litter and abundant surface cover, including bark, logs, and stones. They are often common along the based on rock outcrops, which suggest that they may move into recesses in rock formations during dry weather (Niemiller and Reynolds 2011).
See also Habitat Account for General Montane Mesic Forests
Life History and Autecology
Reproductive Mode: The nesting biology is undocumented, but the females presumably nest underground during the summer months.
Terrestrial Life History: Almost all aspects of the terrestrial ecology are undocumented and a comprehensive life history study is needed for this species.
General Ecology
Adverse Environmental Impacts
Status in North Carolina
NHP State Rank: S2
Global Rank: G2G3
Status in North Carolina: SR

Photo Gallery for Plethodon aureolus - Tellico Salamander

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Recorded by: Todd Pierson
Graham Co.