Subclass Lissamphibia Family Plethodontidae Scientific name Plethodon aureolus Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Caudata Genus Plethodon Higher classification Woodland salamander | |
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Similar Woodland salamander, Salamander, Southern Appalachian salamander, Cumberland Plateau salamander, Amphibians | ||
The Tellico salamander (Plethodon aureolus) is a small woodland salamander resembling P. glutinosus found in mountainous and lowland regions of southeastern Tennessee and extreme southwestern North Carolina. Little has been published on the species.
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Appearance
It has a grayish-black or black dorsum with brassy spotting. The chin is light-coloured and the sides have more concentrated yellow or white spotting. Rounded in cross section, the maximum size for adults is 151 mm from tip of the snout to tip of the tail.
Reproduction
Sexually active males have circular mental glands just behind the chin. The courtship ritual performed is indistinguishable from P. glutinosus. It ends with the deposition of a spermatophore by the male which is picked up by the female's cloacal lips. Chemical cues are important in species recognition and prevention of interbreeding with P. oconaluftee. Males seem to prefer the odor of female conspecifics, while females tend to prefer the odor of male heterospecifics.