FIGURE 19 in Systematics of the Ocoee Salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus ocoee), with description of two new species from the southern Blue Ridge Mountains

FIGURE 19. Live photograph of two large adult male Desmognathus balsameus (RAP2826–7) in combat (a), found in situ under a log in the understory of a coniferous forest (b) near Bear Pen Gap (NC: Jackson; ~1670m ASL). No females were observed nearby, suggesting a possible territorial nature for the interaction. Both individuals show overall darkened adult coloration with few if any discernable color-pattern remnants. Adult Eurycea cf. wilderae and Plethodon metcalfi were found under similar logs, and D. wrighti is known from the site (Pyron et al. 2022c). The encounter occurred at ~1000h on 24 July 2022 and was found by M.A. Seldes. Photos by RAP.