About Plethodon montanus Highton & Peabody, 2000
Taxonomy and Naming
The northern gray-cheeked salamander, scientifically named Plethodon montanus, is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae.
Distribution and Relatives
It is endemic to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States, and is closely related to the red-cheeked salamander and the red-legged salamander.
General Habitat Type
Its natural habitat is temperate forest.
Microhabitat Characteristics
It can be found under moss, rocks, logs, and bark in cool, moist forests located above 2500 feet, and occurs especially often in spruce-fir forests.
Common Prey Items
Commonly eaten prey items include millipedes, earthworms, crane flies, spiders, and centipedes.
Less Common and Additional Prey
Less commonly eaten prey are ants, mites, and springtails, with additional recorded prey including spiders, moths, flies, beetles, bees, and snails.
Courtship Behavior
During courtship performed by the male and female, the male nudges the female with his snout, performs a foot dance, and circles under the female, after which the two walk together.
Breeding Season Behavior
Like other salamanders, this species does not migrate or aggregate during breeding season.
Threats
This species is currently threatened by habitat loss.
