Amphibians
Yonahlossee Salamander
Plethodon yonahlossee · also called Yonahlossee salamanders
High in the southern Appalachian Mountains, a Yonahlossee salamander moves through damp leaf litter, its bold chestnut back stripe standing out against darker surrounding skin. The species carries the name of the mountain pass where scientists first identified it as distinct from its many Appalachian relatives.
Overview
The Yonahlossee salamander, Plethodon yonahlossee, is a large, boldly marked lungless amphibian native to high-elevation forest across the southern Appalachian Mountains. Its notable size and striking back stripe help distinguish it among the region’s many similar-looking salamander species.
A name tied to a specific mountain road
Like several other Appalachian salamanders first identified near distinctive local landmarks, the Yonahlossee salamander carries a name that permanently ties it to the exact mountain pass where researchers first recognised it as its own species.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and stable across suitable high-elevation forest habitat throughout the southern Appalachian Mountains.
Yonahlossee Salamander: common questions
Why is it called the Yonahlossee salamander?
The Yonahlossee salamander takes its name from Yonahlossee Road, a mountain pass in North Carolina located near where the species was first formally described by scientists, a naming convention shared by several other Appalachian salamander species discovered near specific mountain landmarks.
How big does a Yonahlossee salamander get?
The Yonahlossee salamander is a relatively large species among lungless salamanders, notably bigger than several of its smaller Plethodon relatives found within the same general Appalachian region, making it one of the more substantial salamander species encountered in its high-elevation forest habitat.
What does a Yonahlossee salamander look like?
A Yonahlossee salamander typically displays a bold reddish or chestnut-coloured stripe or patch running down its back, providing a striking contrast against its darker overall body colouration, a distinctive pattern that helps distinguish it from several other similarly sized Appalachian salamander species.
Where does the Yonahlossee salamander live?
The Yonahlossee salamander is native to high-elevation forest habitat across parts of the southern Appalachian Mountains, including North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, generally favouring consistently moist, cool mountain forest conditions.