Plethodon petraeus Wynn, Highton & Jacobs, 1988

Physical description

Plethodon petraeus is one of the larger species in its genus. Adult males reach up to 80 mm in snout-vent length (SVL), while adult females reach up to 84.3 mm SVL. Both males and females have reddish-brown coloration on the chin, which also extends from the back of the head, along the back, and onto the tail. White and brass-colored spots are present along the abdomen, tail, and limbs. This species has webbed, flattened, broad feet, and bulbous, forward-facing eyes.

Range

Commonly called the Pigeon Mountain Salamander, Plethodon petraeus is found only on Pigeon Mountain, in northwestern Georgia, United States. It is an endemic species restricted to a 17-kilometer strip of land on the eastern side of Pigeon Mountain. Within this strip, it occurs in scattered caves and rocky outcrops. Although these caves and outcrops are not abundant, P. petraeus can be found in large numbers at the sites where they do occur.