Weller's Salamander
Plethodon welleri
- Class
- Amphibian
- Rarity
- Rare
- Observations
- 454
- Most observed in
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Conservation
- Vulnerable
Description
Weller's salamander (Plethodon welleri) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. This species in endemic to the southeastern mountain range of the United States. It is mainly found in North Carolina near Grandfather Mountain. The salamanders have a unique metallic spotting which distinguishes them from other Plethodon species and other salamanders in the area. They mainly inhabit cool forests with rocky areas. Worth Hamilton Weller, an American herpetologist, discovered the new species during his sophomore/junior high school summer vacation in 1931. This species is currently threatened by population fragmentation, habitat degradation and loss.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Weller's salamander”.