Identification
Weherle’s Salamander is grey or dark brown with white, bluish-white, or
yellowish irregular spots and dashes on the sides of the body. A few small white
dots and brassy flecks are also generally present. The mid-back can be either
unpatterned or have small red, red-orange, or yellow spots. The throat is generally
white or blotched with white, and the spots sometimes extend onto the breast
area. The belly and the underside of the tail are plain grey. The hind feet
are webbed, almost to the tips of the toes. Adults reach 10-13.3 cm (4-5.25
in) and 16-18 grooves on the side of the body (coastal grooves).
Distribution and Status
Weherle’s Salamander can be found from extreme southwest New York and
most of West Virginia, south to west central Virginia and adjacent North Carolina.
Isolated colonies have been reported in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and North
Carolina. Within the Midwest, Weherle’s Salamander is only found in Ohio
where it is considered a species of Special Concern.
Ecology
Weherle’s Salamander lives mostly in the forested hillsides of the Appalachian
Plateau. Red spruce – yellow birch and mixed deciduous forests with rocky
ledges and flat rocks are a favored habitat for this species. Weherle’s
Salamanders forage for food at night, and seek shelter during the day. Ants
and other insects make up the majority of their diet.
Threats and Management Issues
Protection of their favored habitat will ensure the continued existence of
the Weherle’s Salamander.
Resources
General reference guides
and websites.
Reference guides and websites specific to Amphibians.
Bruce Kingsbury, Director
Center for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation and Management
Science Building
Indiana-Purdue University
2101 East Coliseum Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499