The Siskiyou Mountains salamander (Plethodon stormi), also called the Siskiyou Mountain salamander, exists only in isolated locations along the Klamath River in northern California and southern Oregon. It is a close relative of the Del Norte salamander, and some herpetologists believe it may be a subspecies of that animal.

Etymology

The specific name, stormi, is in honor of Canadian-American herpetologist Robert Macleod Storm.

Description

The Siskiyou Mountains salamander is rich brown in color with white speckles. It is about long, not counting the tail, which is variable in length. Like all of the plethodontids, it lacks lungs and respires through its moist skin. It is nocturnal, prefers cool, moist environments, and is most active during rainfall or high humidity. It stays underground during hot periods and freezes.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of P. stormi is rocky areas of forest, at altitudes of .

See also

  • Siskiyou Mountains

References

Sources

  • Bishop, Sherman C., and Brodie, Edmund D., Jr. (1994). Handbook of Salamanders: The Salamanders of the United States, of Canada, and of Lower California. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press. 555 pp. .
  • Hogan, C. Michael (2008). "Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa)". Globaltwitcher, ed. Nicklas Stromberg. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090527153302/http://www.globaltwitcher.com/artspec_information.asp?thingid=43182]
  • Photos of the Siskiyou Mountains salamander & its habitat