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Near Threatened Amphibian Species - Amphibian Specialist Group

Near Threatened Amphibian Species - Amphibian Specialist Group

Near Threatened Amphibian Species - Amphibian Specialist Group

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<strong>Near</strong> <strong>Threatened</strong> <strong>Amphibian</strong> <strong>Species</strong> 637salamanders are hooked by anglers, and some fishermen still believe that Hellbenders are dangerously poisonousand also destroy game fish and their eggs (both beliefs are false), and therefore kill them at every opportunity. In thepast, there were even attempts by organized sportsmen’s groups in West Virginia to eradicate them. There is somecollecting of Hellbenders for sale as live animals or as preserved specimens. Over-collecting has been considered aserious threat in some parts; a decline was noted in the early 1990s, apparently due to collecting. Nickerson and Mays(1973b) noted additional factors they suspected might affect local populations, such as gigging (hunting of the speciesat night), heavy canoe traffic, dynamiting of large boulders to enhance commercial canoe traffic, and riverside cattleand pig pens. Hellbenders generally are intolerant of heavy recreational use of habitat. Many of the presently knownpopulations are in national or state forests, national parks, and other public lands, where there is good potential forprotecting habitat. The St. Louis Zoo maintains a captive-breeding programme for this species.Bibliography: Barbour, R.W. (1971), Behler, J.L. and King, F.W. (1979), Bishop, S.C. (1941), Blackburn, L., Nanjappa, P. and Lannoo, M.J.(2001), Blais, D.P. (1996), Brandon, R.A. and Ballard, S.R. (1994), Bury, R.B., Dodd, Jr., C.K. and Fellers, G.M. (1980), Coatney, Jr, C.E.(1982), Collins, J.T. (1982), Collins, J.T. (1991), Collins, J.T. (1993), Dundee, H.A. (1971), Figg, D.E. (1993), Firschein, I.L. (1951), Frost, D.R.(1985), Gates, J.E. et al. (1985), Green, N.B. and Pauley, T.K. (1987), Guimond, R.W. (1970), Harding, J.H. (1997), Hillis, R.E. and Bellis,E.D. (1971), Hulse, A.C., McCoy, C.J. and Censky, E. (2001), Humphries, W.J. and Pauley, T.K. (2000), Johnson, T.R. (1977), Johnson, T.R.(1987), Johnson, T.R. (2000), Martof, B.S. et al. (1980), McCoy, C.J. (1982), Minton Jr, S.A. (1972), Minton Jr, S.A. (2001), Mitchell, J.C.(1991), Mount, R.H. (1975), Nickerson, M.A. and Mays, C.E. (1973a), Nickerson, M.A. and Mays, C.E. (1973b), Noeske, T.A. and Nickerson,M.A. (1979), Peterson, C.L. (1987), Peterson, C.L. et al. (1983), Peterson, C.L. and Wilkinson, R.F. (1996), Peterson, C.L., Ingersol, C.A.and Wilkinson, R.F. (1989), Peterson, C.L., Metter, D.E. and Miller, B.T. (1988), Peterson, C.L., Reed, J.W. and Wilkinson, R.F. (1989),Pfingsten, R.A. (1990), Pfingsten, R.A. and Downs, F.L. (1989), Phillips, C.A., Brandon, R.A. and Moll, E.O. (1999), Pough, F.H. and Wilson,R.E. (1976), Redmond, W.H. and Scott, A.F. (1996), Routman, E. (1993), Routman, E., Wu, R. and Templeton, A.R. (1994), Smith, P.W.(1961), Swanson, P.L. (1948), Tobey, F.J. (1985), Topping, M.S. and Ingersol, C.A. (1981), Trauth, S.E., Wilhide, J.D. and Daniel, P. (1992),Wiggs, R.L. (1977), Williams, R.D. et al. (1981)Data Providers: Geoffrey Hammerson, Christopher PhillipsDicamptodon ensatus(Eschscholtz, 1833)DICAMPTODONTIDAECALIFORNIA GIANT SALAMANDERThis species can be found in west-central California, USA (Good 1989). It also occurs from Sonoma and Napa Countiessouth to Santa Cruz County and to Monterey County (Petranka 1998). It is found from 0-900m asl. The total adultpopulation size is unknown but is likely to be at least several thousand. It is locally abundant (J.W. Petranka pers.comm.), but terrestrial adults are far less abundant than the aquatic larvae (Petranka 1998). No population data areavailable to determine trends in its population status (D.B. Wake pers. comm.). Larvae of this species usually inhabitclear, cold streams, but are also found in mountain lakes and ponds. Adults are found in humid forests under rocksand logs, for example, near mountain streams or rocky shores of mountain lakes (Stebbins 1985b). Eggs are usuallylaid in the headwaters of mountain streams. Breeding typically occurs in water-filled nest chambers under logs androcks or in rock crevices. The greatest threats to this species are stream siltation and urban development (Petranka1998; D.B. Wake pers. comm.), and it is also threatened by habitat fragmentation due to land use changes, includingurbanization, agricultural development, and logging (H.H. Welsh pers. comm.). In the related Pacific giant salamander(D. tenebrosus), larvae may be reduced in numbers where there has been clear-cut logging (Corn and Bury 1989) orsiltation from roads (Welsh and Ollivier 1998). However, opening of forest canopies over streams might lead temporarilyto higher primary productivity that in turn increases the body sizes of larval D. tenebrosus (Murphy and Hall 1981).Dicamptodon ensatus occurs in numerous protected areas, and is therefore probably only moderately threatened,even though its range is small and close to urban areas.Bibliography: Anderson, J.D. (1968a), Blackburn, L., Nanjappa, P. and Lannoo, M.J. (2001), Bury, R.B. (2005), Corn, P.S. and Bury, R.B.(1989), Daugherty, C.H. et al. (1983), Frost, D.R. (1985), Good, D.A. (1989), Murphy, M.L. and Hall, J.D. (1981), Nussbaum, R.A. (1969),Nussbaum, R.A. (1976), Nussbaum, R.A. and Clothier, G.R. (1973), Nussbaum, R.A., Brodie, Jr., E.D. and Storm, R.M. (1983), Petranka,J.W. (1998), Stebbins, R.C. (1985b), Welsh Jr, H H. and Ollivier, L.M. (1998)Data Providers: Geoffrey Hammerson, Bruce BuryBatrachuperus persicusEiselt and Steiner, 1970HYNOBIIDAEPERSIAN MOUNTAIN SALAMANDERThis species is found on the Caspian slope of the Talesh and Alborz Mountains of Iran, from 0-1,500m asl. It is locallycommon to rare. This is an aquatic species known only from mountain streams surrounded by a few trees, inhigh rainfall Hyrcanian-type forest. The adults are rarely seen, but have been found in holes under rocks. The caveswhere the adults are presumed to occur have yet to be found, and the stream-dwelling larvae are more frequentlyencountered. It is believed to be very susceptible to habitat change (for example, stream pollution). This species isthreatened by habitat loss arising from urban sprawl along the Caspian coast and foothills, agricultural development(rice cultivation), and logging (with associated siltation of streams), and also by aquatic pollution and in some partsof its range by increasing light pollution. Some populations might also be affected by extended periods of drought.This species occurs in the protected Hyrcanian forest region.Bibliography: Baloutchi, M. and Kami, H.G. (1995), Kami, H.G. (1999), Schmidtler, J.J. and Schmidtler, J.F. (1971), Stöck, M. (1999),Thorn, R. (1968)Data Providers: Theodore Papenfuss, Steven Anderson, Sergius Kuzmin, Nasrullah Rastegar-PouyaniPLETHODONTIDAEAneides aeneus (Cope and Packard, 1881)GREEN SALAMANDERThis species can be found from 140-1,350m asl in the Appalachian region, USA. Its range therefore includes extremesouth-western Pennsylvania, extreme western Maryland, and southern Ohio to northern Alabama and extreme northeasternMississippi, with a disjunctive area in south-western North Carolina and adjacent South Carolina and Georgia,and additional isolated populations in central Tennessee and north-eastern West Virginia (Conant and Collins 1991). Itwas recently also recorded in Crawford County, Indiana (Madej 1998). It is patchily distributed and generally uncommonthroughout most of the range (Petranka 1998). The disjunctive Blue Ridge Escarpment populations exhibited dramaticdeclines in abundance after the early 1970s (Corser 2001). Snyder (1991) reported that these populations appearedto be recovering, but Corser (2001) determined that three out of six populations first discovered in 1991 crashed in1996-1997. Populations in the main range appear to have remained stable (Snyder 1991). This species can be foundin damp (but not wet) crevices in shaded rock outcrops and ledges, or beneath loose bark and in cracks of standingor fallen trees (in cove hardwoods, for example). It can sometimes also be found in or under logs on the ground. Itsometimes reaches high population densities in logged areas where the tree canopies are left. Eggs are laid in rockcrevices, rotting stumps, or similar dark, damp places. The threats to this species that have caused it to decline insome areas are habitat loss (arising from development of the land and watershed areas) and possibly over-collectingand epidemic disease (Corser 2001). Severe drought might exacerbate other threats or cause temporary declines.To assist its conservation, better information on its current status is needed, as is information on the threats thatit faces. The extent to which logging of old growth forest has reduced gene flow among rock outcrop populationsshould be studied (Petranka 1998), and whenever feasible a forested buffer of at least 100m should be left aroundoccupied rock outcrops (Petranka 1998).Bibliography: Barbour, R.W. (1971), Blackburn, L., Nanjappa, P. and Lannoo, M.J. (2001), Canterbury, R.A. and Pauley, T.K. (1994), Conant,R. and Collins, J.T. (1991), Corser, J.D. (2001), Cupp, P.V., Jr. (1991), Frost, D.R. (1985), Gordon, R.E. (1967), Green, N.B. and Pauley, T.K.(1987), Hulse, A.C., McCoy, C.J. and Censky, E. (2001), Madej, R.F. (1998), Minton Jr, S.A. (1972), Mount, R.H. (1975), Petranka, J.W. (1998),Pfi ngsten, R.A. and Downs, F.L. (1989), Redmond, W.H. and Scott, A.F. (1996), Snyder, D.H. (1991), Woods, J.E. (1968)Data Providers: Geoffrey HammersonAneides ferreus Cope, 1869CLOUDED SALAMANDERThis species has a patchy distribution from Del Norte and Siskiyou Counties, California, north through western Oregonto the Columbia River, USA (Jackman 1998). It is generally scarce, but locally common. However, current forest managementpractices are causing declines. This species inhabits moist coniferous forests (such as redwood, Douglasfi r, western hemlock, and Port Orford cedar forests), in forest edges, forest clearings, talus, and burned-over areas.It is usually found under bark, in rotten logs, or in rock crevices, and it may aggregate in decayed logs in summer.The downed logs that it inhabits are large (greater than 50cm in diameter), and of mid-decay classes with sloughingbark (Thomas et al. 1993). This species also sometimes climbs high into trees. It lays its direct-developing eggs incavities in rotten logs, in rock crevices, under bark, or among vegetation. Welsh and Wilson (1995) reported a clutchof Aneides ferreus or A.vagrans eggs that had been deposited in a fern clump at the base of a limb 30-40m above theground in a large redwood tree. This species is threatened by intensive, short-rotation logging practices that resultin increasing scarcity of coarse woody debris on the forest floor (Corn and Bury 1991). These salamanders may thriveinitially after logging but then decline as stumps and logs decay and critical microhabitats are eliminated (Petranka1998). Protection of mature and old growth forests is the most important long-term conservation need for this species.The trend for increasing scarcity of required coarse woody debris on the forest floor might be counteracted tosome degree by existing and proposed forest management plans for the Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis) and MarbledMurrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus; Thomas et al. 1993).Taxonomy: Aneides vagrans was formerly included in this species.Bibliography: Behler, J.L. and King, F.W. (1979), Blackburn, L., Nanjappa, P. and Lannoo, M.J. (2001), Corkran, C.C. and Thoms, C. (1996),Corn, P.S. and Bury, R.B. (1991), Frost, D.R. (1985), Jackman, T.R. (1998), Leonard, W.P. et al. (1993), Mahoney, M.J. (2001), McKenzie,D.S. and Storm, R.M. (1970), Nussbaum, R.A., Brodie, Jr., E.D. and Storm, R.M. (1983), Petranka, J.W. (1998), Stebbins, R.C. (1985b),Thomas, J.W. et al. (1993), Wake, D. (1965), Welsh, H.H., Jr. and Wilson, R.A. (1995)Data Providers: Geoffrey HammersonAneides flavipunctatus (Strauch, 1870)BLACK SALAMANDERThis species can be found from extreme south-western Oregon south through north-western California, USA (as farsouth as central Santa Cruz and western Santa Clara Counties). It occurs from sea level to over 1,700m asl (Stebbins1985b). No quantitative data are available on the population status of this salamander, but it is uncommon or rare inmany areas where formerly it was common (Wake, cited by Petranka 1998). It can be found in forests, woodlands andgrasslands. Southern populations prefer moist woodlands along streams and seepages, while northern populations arefound in grassy areas, and far northern populations in moss-covered rockslides (Behler and King 1979). It is primarilyterrestrial and is found under surface cover. A nest found in Santa Clara County, California, was located about 38cmbelow the surface of the ground in a soil cavity (Nussbaum, Brodie and Storm 1983). The most well understood threatto this species is habitat destruction (clear-cutting logging), but declines also appear to have taken place as a resultof unexplained causes. Better information is needed concerning the threats to this species and its population trends.The unexplained causes of recent declines also need to be determined.Bibliography: Behler, J.L. and King, F.W. (1979), Blackburn, L., Nanjappa, P. and Lannoo, M.J. (2001), Frost, D.R. (1985), Highton, R. (2000),Larson, A. (1980), Leonard, W.P. et al. (1993), Lynch, J. (1974), Lynch, J.F. (1985), Mahoney, M.J. (2001), Nussbaum, R.A., Brodie, Jr., E.D.and Storm, R.M. (1983), Petranka, J.W. (1998), Stebbins, R.C. (1985b), Welsh Jr, H.H., Hodgson, G.R. and Lind, A.J. (2005)Data Providers: Geoffrey HammersonRanodon shihi (Liu, 1950)WUSHAN SALAMANDERAneides vagrans Wake and Jackman, 1998 WANDERING SALAMANDERThis species is known from central China including Henan, Shaanxi, Sichuan and Hubei Provinces, from 900-2,350masl. It is common within its range. It is an aquatic species that inhabits small, low-gradient streams in forested areas.Eggs are laid in sacs that are then attached to the underside of rocks in the streams. The most significant threat tothis species is over-exploitation as a food source, although habitat destruction and degradation (including for theconstruction of dams) are also affecting its habitat. Its range overlaps with several protected areas.Taxonomy: We follow Kuzmin and Thiesmeier (2001), and include this species in Ranodon. Huang, Fei and Ye (1992) suggested movingthis species to the genus Ranodon from Liua.Bibliography: Fei, L. et al. (1999), Huang, Y.-Z., Fei, L. and Ye, C.-Y. (1992), Kuzmin, S. and Thiesmeier, B. (2001), Liu, C.C. (1950),MacKinnon, J. et al. (1996), Ye, C.-Y, Fei, L. and Hu, S.Q. (1993)Data Providers: Wu Guanfu, Fei LiangThis species occurs in the USA from northern Del Norte and Siskiyou Counties, California, south through extremewestern Trinity, Humboldt, and Mendocino Counties in an increasingly narrow, forested coastal strip to the vicinityof Stewart’s Point, north-western Sonoma County, California. It is widespread on Vancouver Island and neighbouringislands in British Columbia, Canada, but reports from mainland British Columbia are unreliable. All Canadianpopulations might be derived from human-mediated introductions that occurred in conjunction with shipments oftan oak bark from California (Wake and Jackman, in Jackman 1998). The type locality in Humbold County is at 500masl. The total adult population size of this species is unknown but is likely to be at least several thousand. This speciesoccurs in moist coniferous forests, in forest edges, forest clearings, talus, and burned-over areas. It is usuallyfound under bark or in rotten logs (in which it may aggregate in summer), and it requires large (greater than 50cm indiameter) downed logs of mid-decay classes with sloughing bark (Thomas et al. 1993). It often occurs high in trees,and some individuals or populations may rarely descend to ground level. It lays its eggs in cavities in rotten logs,under bark, or among vegetation. Welsh and Wilson (1995) reported a clutch of Aneides vagrans or A. ferreus eggsthat had been deposited in a fern clump at the base of a limb 30-40m above the ground in a large redwood tree.This species is threatened by intensive, short-rotation logging practices that result in increasing scarcity of coarsewoody debris on the forest floor (Corn and Bury 1991). These salamanders may thrive initially after logging but thendecline as stumps and logs decay and critical microhabitats are eliminated (Petranka 1998). Protection of matureand old growth forests is the most important long-term conservation need for this species. The trend for increasing

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