Head to head
Shenandoah Salamander vs Del Norte Salamander
A Shenandoah salamander and a Del Norte salamander are both lungless salamanders confined to a narrow strip of rocky habitat, one in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and the other along the California-Oregon coastal mountains, each shaped by very different specific pressures.
| Shenandoah Salamander | Del Norte Salamander | |
|---|---|---|
| Genus | Plethodon | Plethodon |
| Native range | Three mountains, Shenandoah National Park | California-Oregon border coastal mountains |
| Main cause of range restriction | Competition from red-backed salamander | Dependency on old-growth forest and talus |
| Body shape | Standard Plethodon build | Unusually elongated, slender |
| Primary threat | Climate change affecting talus moisture | Logging removing canopy and woody debris |
| Breathing method | Entirely through skin, no lungs | Entirely through skin, no lungs |
| Habitat | Rocky talus slopes | Rocky talus and forest debris |
| Conservation status | Endangered | Near Threatened |
Shenandoah Salamander vs Del Norte Salamander: common questions
Why is the Shenandoah salamander confined to just three mountains?
The Shenandoah salamander's restriction to rocky talus slopes on three specific mountains is believed to result largely from competitive exclusion by the more common and widespread red-backed salamander, which occupies the more favourable surrounding forest soil habitat on those same mountains, effectively confining the Shenandoah salamander to rockier terrain its competitor uses less effectively.
Is the Del Norte salamander's narrow range also caused by competition from another species?
No, unlike the Shenandoah salamander, the Del Norte salamander's narrow range is understood to stem primarily from its specific dependency on old-growth forest conditions and rocky talus habitat along the California-Oregon border, with logging that removes canopy cover and woody debris representing the main documented threat, rather than direct competitive exclusion from another salamander species.
Do both salamanders breathe the same way?
Yes, both the Shenandoah salamander and the Del Norte salamander belong to the lungless salamander genus Plethodon and breathe entirely through their moist skin and the lining of the mouth, an adaptation that ties both species closely to consistently damp rocky habitat regardless of which coast they are found on.