Amphibians of North Carolina
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Plethodontidae Members:
NC Records

Plethodon chattahoochee - Chattahoochee Slimy Salamander

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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: This member of the Plethodon glutinosus complex is a large, light-chinned species with abundant white or yellow lateral spotting. The amount of dorsal spotting is variable, but is often prominent on specimens from the central and western portion of the range and greatly reduced or absent elsewhere. Adults have a black to dark bluish black ground color, and the venter is grayish black and slightly lighter colored than the dorsum. The tail is rounded in cross-section and slightly longer than the body. The number of costal grooves averages 16. Sexually mature males have prominent circular-shaped mental glands and papillose cloacal lining. Identification is best made by the range and collection site.

Highton (1989) reported that P. chattahoochee occurs in extreme southeastern Cherokee County in North Carolina. However, these populations are near a contact zone between P. chattahoochee and P. teyahalee and may be hybrids (Highton and Peabody 2000). Highton and Peabody (2000) noted that P. chattahoochee is also parapatric with P. shermani near the Georgia–North Carolina border, with an apparent wide hybrid zone in the region. mtDNA of a nearest neighbor in northern Georgia that was examined by Weisrock et al. (2005) had genomic elements of both P. shermani and P. chattahoochee. It is possible that pure forms are not present in North Carolina, and our records of putative P. chattahoochee from North Carolina are best treated as tentative until verified by additional molecular studies. Records from Transylvania County are questionable and probably are misidentified specimens based on the geographic range shown by Highton (1989). Plethodon chattahoochee also hybridizes with the Atlantic Coast Slimy Salamander (P. chlorobryonis) in northeastern Georgia (Highton and Peabody 2000).
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Observation Methods: The juveniles and adults occur under cover objects and can be observed at night on the forest floor when conditions are moist or rainy.
AmphibiaWeb Account
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution Comments: This species occurs throughout much of northern Georgia except for the northeastern corner. Our records from Cherokee, Clay and Transylvania counties could potentially be hybrids (see above) and are best treated as tentative until verified by additional studies.
Distribution Reference: Highton (1989)
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
GBIF Global Distribution
Key Habitat Requirements
Habitat: Plethodon chattahoochee is found in mesic hardwood forests and does best in mature forests with well-developed leaf litter, rich, loamy soils, and abundant coarse woody debris that serves as surface cover.
See also Habitat Account for General Montane Mesic Forests
Life History and Autecology
Reproductive Mode: Although the nests have never been discovered, each female presumably lays a single clutch of eggs in an underground cavity and broods her eggs through hatching.
Terrestrial Life History: Almost all aspects of the life history of this species are undocumented and a comprehensive life history study is needed.
General Ecology
Adverse Environmental Impacts
Status in North Carolina
NHP State Rank: S1
Global Rank: G3
Status in North Carolina: SR
Status Comments: The status of populations in North Carolina is poorly resolved, mostly because of the uncertainty of the taxonomic status of putative populations within the state.