Kathryn (Katy) R. Pawlik
Department of Biological Sciences
Marshall University
Huntington, West Virginia
pawlik@marshall.edu
Master’s Thesis Research:
West Virginia Streamside Salamander Guilds with an Emphasis on
Environmental Variables and Habitat Selection of the Northern Red Salamander, Pseudotriton r. ruber
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Studied streamside salamander
community structure
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Compared environmental tolerance
ranges for various streamside salamanders
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Studied habitat preferences of streamside
salamanders
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Determined distribution of Pseudotriton r. ruber in West Virginia
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Determined environmental variables
associated with P. r. ruber habitat
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Conducted a morphometric
study on P. r. ruber
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Determined conservation status for
P. r. ruber
Northern Red Salamander (Pseudotriton r. ruber)
The Northern Red Salamander is an uncommon species in West
Virginia. Its current status,
established by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, is S3, which is
defined as 20-100 reported sightings a year. However, my research is showing that this
species is rarer in West Virginia than previously thought, so this ranking may
change, as fewer individuals are found each year.
The Northern Red Salamander is a thick, bright orange to red
salamander with numerous irregular dorsal spots. It has a yellow iris and a black, lipstick-like
margin around its mouth. Larvae are
grayish-brown with many small, irregular spots.
The larval stage lasts for approximately 3 years. After metamorphosis, males will become
sexually mature in about 3 years and females in 5. Mating occurs in the late fall with egg
deposition in early winter. As
individuals age, their dorsal spots coalesce to give an overall purplish-black
color. They live approximately 20 years.
The habitat of the Northern Red Salamander is springs, seeps, and
first and second order streams. This
species prefers relatively shallow, slow-moving water with a substrate mixture
of sand and fine organic matter. Larvae are found under rocks and logs within the stream while
adults are found under rocks and logs along the stream bank, often near a
burrow. Some adults have been
reported to wander within the terrestrial habitat as well.
Links:
www.marshall.edu/herp
Frog,
Lizard, and Turtle Photos