Amphibians
Scott Bar Salamander
Plethodon asupak · also called Scott Bar salamanders
Tucked beneath a fallen log deep within the Scott Bar Mountains of northern California, a Scott Bar salamander occupies essentially the entire known range of its species, a lungless amphibian not formally recognised as distinct from its closest relatives until as recently as 2005.
Overview
The Scott Bar salamander, Plethodon asupak, is a lungless amphibian endemic to shaded, damp forest habitat within the Scott Bar Mountains of Siskiyou County in northern California. Its very recent 2005 scientific description, extremely narrow single-range endemism, and close relationship to the Siskiyou Mountains salamander make it one of the more taxonomically recent and geographically confined amphibian discoveries in North America.
A species defined by a single mountain range
Long overlooked as simply part of a neighbouring, more widespread species, the Scott Bar salamander went formally undescribed until 2005, when closer genetic study of its specific mountain range revealed a population distinct enough to stand on its own.
Status
Vulnerable, known only from a single small mountain range in northern California, where logging or other forest disturbance poses a significant risk to the entire species.
Scott Bar Salamander: common questions
Where is the Scott Bar salamander found?
This species is known only from the Scott Bar Mountains of Siskiyou County in northern California, an extremely narrow natural range found nowhere else on Earth, making the health of that one specific stretch of mountain forest directly tied to the survival of the entire species.
When was the Scott Bar salamander discovered?
This species was not formally described and recognised as distinct from its closest relatives until 2005, following detailed genetic and physical study of salamander populations within the Scott Bar Mountains, making it one of the more recently described salamander species in North America.
How is the Scott Bar salamander related to the Siskiyou Mountains salamander?
The Scott Bar salamander is closely related to the Siskiyou Mountains salamander, and it was specifically distinguished from that species through detailed genetic and physical study of populations confined to the Scott Bar Mountains, a narrow mountain range close to but distinct from the broader range occupied by its nearest relative.
Why is the Scott Bar salamander considered vulnerable?
Because this species' entire known range is confined to a single small mountain range, logging or other disturbance that removes mature forest canopy or fallen woody debris within that specific area has the potential to significantly affect the species as a whole, since there is no other substantial population elsewhere to fall back on.