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FIGURE 4 in A new, narrowly endemic species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi and Alabama

FIGURE 4. The easternmost confirmed locality in the floodplain of Chickasaw Creek (AL: Mobile), in the Mobile River drainage. The ravine tributary stream originates in sight of I-65, and during our visit the upper sections were filled with trash discarded from the roadway. Nevertheless, an abundant salamander community persists where the intact hydrology supports sufficient microhabitat and vegetation. The site is heavily trafficked by humans for recreation and in close proximity (<5 km) to urban development, industrial activity, and interstate runoff.

FIGURE 1 in A new, narrowly endemic species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi and Alabama

FIGURE 1. Recent and historical populations previously or currently assigned to Desmognathus auriculatus (see Grobman 1950) based on verified localities from recent publications (Beamer and Lamb 2008; Means et al. 2017; Beamer and Lamb 2020; Pyron et al. 2022a,b) and museum records and new sites reported here. Specimens of unknown identity in northwestern Florida (FL) are representative of numerous extirpated historical populations in the region. These are thought to have been D. auriculatus A (Means et al. 2017; Pyron et al. 2022b) but have not been confirmed genetically and may be D. pascagoula or additional new species. All populations historically assigned to D. auriculatus from west of the Mississippi that have been tested genetically represent D. conanti E (Hibbitts et al. 2015) and are not shown. Other states of the southeastern United States: AR (Arkansas), LA (Louisiana), MS (Mississippi), TN (Tennessee), AL (Alabama), GA (Georgia), SC (South Carolina), and NC (North Carolina).

FIGURE 3. The Number 12 in A new, narrowly endemic species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi and Alabama

FIGURE 3. The Number 12 Swamp locality (Franklin Creek in Grand Bay, AL: Mobile), showing another view of the characteristic blackwater stream/cypress swamp habitat.

FIGURE 8 in A new, narrowly endemic species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi and Alabama

FIGURE 8. Results from the ML analysis of the ND2/tRNA/COI fragment for the focal clade, including Desmognathus auriculatus A–C, D. brimleyorum, D. conanti C, D. pascagoula, and D. valentinei. All available specimens are included for D. brimleyorum, D. pascagoula, and D. valentinei, but only a single exemplar for the other lineages. Dots at nodes indicate strong support (BS>70% & SHL>85%). Inset maps show all known localities for D. brimleyorum, D. conanti C, D. pascagoula, and D. valentinei verified by molecular sequence data (type locality and recent sites), along with the potential historical locality for D. pascagoula. Note that RAP1106 (in bold) is the holotype (USNM 596040).

FIGURE 11 in A new, narrowly endemic species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi and Alabama

FIGURE 11. Comparative specimen (AMNH 193773/RAP1108) of Desmognathus conanti C from Pigeon Creek, Clarke Co., Alabama, showing typical coloration of Spotted Dusky Salamanders from the Gulf Coastal Plain (see Valentine, 1963). These populations are often confused with D. valentinei (e.g., by Kozak et al., 2005; see Beamer and Lamb, 2008), and could be mistaken for D. pascagoula. Distinguishing characters include elongated "duck-bill" snout; indistinct postocular stripe; heavy, irregular, light-colored lateral and ventrolateral flecking and speckling; ventrolateral row of "portholes" on the trunk barely distinguishable from flecking; and more slender, less compressed tail with faint lateral row of "portholes" barely visible.

FIGURE 13 in A new, narrowly endemic species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi and Alabama

FIGURE 13. The holotype (USNM 596040/RAP1106) of Desmognathus pascagoula in life on isolated (a) and naturalistic (b) backgrounds. Note the relative lack of distinct "portholes" in the dorsolateral and lateral rows on the body and tail, and the bright orange postocular stripe. The ventrolateral row of "portholes" is partially visible on the body.

FIGURE 10. Individual boxplots showing the 9 in A new, narrowly endemic species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi and Alabama

FIGURE 10. Individual boxplots showing the 9 highest-loading (eigenvalues> 5) size-corrected linear measurements contributing to significant discrimination between all three related or sympatric species. While limited sample sizes preclude detailed significance tests or correction for multiple comparison, we include the notched boxplots here for a preliminary visual assessment of gross shape differences between the species relative to median values.

FIGURE 2 in A new, narrowly endemic species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi and Alabama

FIGURE 2. The original Grand Bay locality (Franklin Creek, AL: Mobile), showing the characteristic blackwater stream/ cypress swamp habitat, as distinct from the muddy, silted floodplain swamp at the type locality.

FIGURE 7 in A new, narrowly endemic species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi and Alabama

FIGURE 7. Results from conStruct analysis of 2,798 bi-allelic SNPs from 18 specimens. Overall layer contributions indicate K=2 significant genetic clusters, 10 Desmognathus valentinei from 6 populations, and 8 D. pascagoula from 5 populations.

FIGURE 9 in A new, narrowly endemic species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi and Alabama

FIGURE 9. Results from the LDA based on 17 linear morphometric measurements derived from Bingham et al. (2018). Significant separation (i.e., a majority of 95% ellipse volume) is observed between all three related or sympatric species, with the predominant loadings occurring primarily on trunk slenderness and craniofacial characteristics (see Fig. 10).

FIGURE 6 in A new, narrowly endemic species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi and Alabama

FIGURE 6. The northernmost locality, in the floodplain of Cowart Branch (MS: Greene) near the Leaf River. The site contains extensive bottomland blackwater cypress swamps.

FIGURE 5 in Allocation of Salamandra auriculata Holbrook, 1838, with a new species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Atlantic Coastal Plain

FIGURE 5. Comparative specimen (AMNH A-193891/RAP2303) of Desmognathus valtos. Specimen is a large adult (62.4 mm SVL) showing the same diagnostic features as the holotype, with very prominent reddish or orangish wash or stripe on the dorsal surface and very indistinct margins on the tail.

FIGURE 6 in Allocation of Salamandra auriculata Holbrook, 1838, with a new species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Atlantic Coastal Plain

FIGURE 6. Comparative specimen (AMNH A-193890/RAP2297) of Desmognathus valtos. Specimen is transformed juvenile (17.2 mm SVL) with remnants of gill nubs, showing general approximation of the adult color pattern. This specimen exhibited substantial metachrosis after capture and rapid fading in preservative; in life, it exhibited more prominent differentiation of lateral, dorsal, and ventral surfaces and a bolder stripe on the dorsal surface of the tail.

FIGURE 4 in Allocation of Salamandra auriculata Holbrook, 1838, with a new species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Atlantic Coastal Plain

FIGURE 4. Paratype (AMNH A-193889/RAP2294) of Desmognathus valtos. Specimen is a small adult (41.2 mm SVL) showing the same diagnostic features as the holotype, with more prominent dorsal color-pattern and lateral white flecking or speckling that is characteristic of younger individuals, with the latter extending noticeably onto the dorsal surfaces.

FIGURE 3 in Allocation of Salamandra auriculata Holbrook, 1838, with a new species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Atlantic Coastal Plain

FIGURE 3. Paratype (NCSM 108360/RAP2289) of Desmognathus valtos. Specimen is a juvenile or small adult (32.1 mm SVL) showing the same diagnostic features as the holotype, with more prominent dorsal color-pattern and lateral white flecking that is characteristic of younger individuals.

FIGURE 1 in Allocation of Salamandra auriculata Holbrook, 1838, with a new species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Atlantic Coastal Plain

FIGURE 1. Linear morphometric analysis of MNHN 0.4675, the lectotype of Salamandra auriculata Holbrook, 1838. Shown are the 75 scores and overall densities on the first linear-discriminant axis (a), the assignment probabilities for each specimen (b), a boxplot of the highest-loading trait with significant median difference (AG~SVL; c), and a map of the samples (d) with type localities indicated by triangles. We estimate strong support for allocation of the specimen and name to the Desmognathus auriculatus A lineage of northern Florida, southern Georgia, and southern Alabama. This necessitates a new name (D. valtos) for the D. auriculatus B/C lineage from the Atlantic Coastal Plain of the Carolinas.

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.

FIGURE 13 in Systematics of the Ocoee Salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus ocoee), with description of two new species from the southern Blue Ridge Mountains

FIGURE 13. Photographs of two adult Desmognathus adatsihi (a: RAP2818; b: RAP2820) in life, from the paratype locality on Rough Ridge (NC: Haywood). Photos courtesy of M.A. Seldes.

FIGURE 16 in Systematics of the Ocoee Salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus ocoee), with description of two new species from the southern Blue Ridge Mountains

FIGURE 16. The holotype (AMNH A-193885/RAP0650) of Desmognathus balsameus from Bubbling Spring Branch (NC: Haywood), ~1530m ASL. This adult specimen (43mm SVL) has a relatively dull dorsal color-pattern partially obscured by ontogenetic darkening, common in this species. Photos by RAP.

FIGURE 10 in Systematics of the Ocoee Salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus ocoee), with description of two new species from the southern Blue Ridge Mountains

FIGURE 10. Paratype (USNM 596063/RAP0890) of Desmognathus adatsihi from Cataloochee Balsam (NC: Swain) in life, photo courtesy of T.W. Pierson. This brilliantly colored erythristic morph and its xanthic counterpart are infrequently observed, primarily on Cataloochee Balsam near the type locality, but also very rarely on Clingmans Dome in the Smokies (Fig. 14a) and Waterrock Knob in the Plott Balsams (S. G. Tilley, pers. comm.). A similar specimen from near the type locality was mislabeled as D. imitator by Dodd (2004).