Mating behavior has not been described.Įgg deposition sites - Females oviposit and attend their clutches in late spring and summer.Įggs are laid on the undersides of large rocks in fast-flowing streams (Pope, 1924). I.e., riffle areas of streams (Martof, 1962b). The bienniality of female oogenic cycles in otherĭesmognathines has been questioned, however (Tilley, 1968, 1977 Tilley and Tinkle, 1968).īreeding habitat - Mating presumably occurs in habitat that is favored for other activities, Martof (1962b) suggested thatįemales may breed every other year. Populations have been shown to be vulnerable to low pHs and heavy metalĬontamination (Mathews and Morgan, 1982).īreeding migrations - This species is not known to migrate. Shovel-nosed salamanders are nearly (see below) completely aquatic (Hairston, 1949 Martof,ġ962b) and are most abundant in rapids and riffles where densities can be > 6 animals/m2 Generally are common in second- and third-order streams at elevations below 1,220 m. Historical versus Current Abundance - Petranka (1998) noted that shovel-nosed salamanders StreamĬapture apparently has influenced the distributional history of shovel-nosed salamanders Shovel-nosed salamanders are nearly (see below) completely aquatic (Camp et al., 2002).

Semi-aquatic, occupying habitats similar to black-bellied salamanders (D. CompetitiveĮxclusion between the two, while possible, seems unlikely because the newly discovered form is (sensu Titus and Larson, 1996) within the genus Desmognathus (Camp et al., 2002). The recently found form is presumably a member of the marmoratus–quadramaculatus clade Shovel-nosed salamanders occurs in streams of the Nottely River system (Camp et al., 2000,Ģ002). A newly discovered, dark-ventered desmognathine that is similar in size to Georgia stream systems (e.g., Hiwassee, Ocoee, and Nottely rivers) to the west of itsĭistribution. He also noted the enigmatic absence of this species in apparently favorable habitats in Martof (1962b) noted the absence of shovel-nosed salamanders in streams that have been heavily Georgia during 1997–'98 showed that this species currently is not important to the bait industry A survey of bait shops in the Appalachian region of (Martof, 1962b), and bait dealers have introduced shovel-nosed salamanders into areas outside Shovel-nosed salamandersĬommonly were collected and sold as fish bait in Georgia during the mid-twentieth century Populations are scattered,Įspecially at the northeastern and southwestern extremes of the range. Than elevation, apparently limit distribution (Martof, 1962b). Drainage patterns, and consequentially rate of stream flow, rather Historical versus Current Distribution - Shovel-nosed salamanders (Desmognathus marmoratus)Īre found from southwestern Virginia southwest through eastern Tennessee, western NorthĬarolina, and extreme northwestern South Carolina and into northern Georgia at elevations fromģ00–1,680 m (Petranka, 1998). Light-colored area extending from the eye to the angle of the jaw. The tip of the keel formsĪn angle of about 40 degrees. The prominent keel on the tail is often notched or ragged.

Males average about 10 percent larger than the females. The color of the venter is variable, usually Irregular, light-colored yellowish blotches. The dorsum is usually dark brown, usually with two rows of Yellowish-brown, alternating dorsal blotches, pale undersides, and a poorly defined lineįrom the eye to the angle of the jaw. Physical Description - This is a large, robust, desmognathine with squarish Populations of these species are in decline or haveĭeclined to low levels or are in a restricted range. Virginia Wildlife Action Plan Rating Tier III (High Conservation Need) -Įxtinction or extirpation is possible.

Desmognathus fluctus