Northern ravine salamander

{{Speciesbox

| name =

| image =

| status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1

|status_ref={{cite iucn |author=IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group |date=2014 |title=Plethodon electromorphus |volume=2014 |page=e.T59338A56366748 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T59338A56366748.en |access-date=16 November 2021}}

|genus=Plethodon

|species=electromorphus

|authority = Highton, 1999

| synonyms =

}}

File:Plethodon_richmondi_on_rock.jpg

The northern ravine salamander (Plethodon electromorphus) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. The species is endemic to the United States.

Geographic range

The northern ravine salamander has been found in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Habitat

The natural habitats of P. electromorphus are temperate forests and rocky areas.

Conservation status

The species P. electromorphus is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

==Description==

The northern ravine salamander is a small terrestrial salamander, 7.5–11.5 cm (3.0–4.5 in) in total length. It is elongated, slender, and short-legged. Its coloration is brown to nearly black, sprinkled with minute silvery white and bronzy or brassy specks. It has very small, irregular white blotches on the lower sides, and a virtually plain dark belly with a lightly mottled chin.{{cite book|last=Powell|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Powell (herpetologist)|last2=Conant|first2=Roger|author2-link=Roger Conant (herpetologist)|last3=Collins|first3=Joseph T.|author3-link=Joseph T. Collins|title= Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition |year=2016|publisher= Houghton Mifflin Harcourt|location=Boston and New York|isbn= 978-0-544-12997-9|page=81}}

Taxonomy

The northern ravine salamander was previously considered to be a part of Plethodon richmondi (southern ravine salamander). Electrophoresis, from which the specific name electromorphus is derived, was used to distinguish them.Highton R (1999). "Hybridization in the Contact Zone between Plethodon richmondi and Plethodon electromorphus in Northern Kentucky". Herpetologica 55 (1): 91-105.

Behavior

The northern ravine salamander is less aggressive than the more widespread red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus).Deitloff, Jennifer; Church, James O.; Adams, Dean C.; Jaeger, Robert G. (2009). "Interspecific Agonistic Behaviors in a Salamander Community: Implications for Alpha Selection". Herpetologica 65 (2): 174–182.