Eurycea aquatica Rose & Bush 1963

The brownback salamander (Eurycea aquatica) is a species of brook salamander. Its range includes parts of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, where it occurs in natural freshwater springs typically abundant in watercress. Once considered an ecotype of the southern two-lined salamander, the brownback salamander was subsequently raised to full species status based on molecular evidence.^[1]

Naming and etymology

The genus "Eurycea" is mythological in origin and was first used by Rafinesque in 1822 to describe all brook salamanders. The specific epithet aquatica refers to the habits of E. aquatica being more aquatic than those of the closely related salamander E. cirrigera.

Range and habitat

The brownback salamander occurs in springs throughout the Southeast with verified localities existing in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Physical characteristics

The brownback salamander is so-named for its brown color, which is in contrast with the yellow hue of southern two-lined salamanders. Members of the species are typically 30–40 mm. Males and females are sexually dimorphic in head shape with the males having broader heads. Males of the brownback salamander do not possess cirri, which distinguishes this species from other brook salamanders including the southern two-lined salamander.

References

• Rose and Bush, 1963, Tulane Stud. Zool., 10: 121.
• Petranka, 1998, Salamand. U.S. Canada: 241–242.

Eurycea aquatica est une espèce d'urodèles de la famille des Plethodontidae^[1].

Répartition

Cette espèce est endémique du centre-Est des États-Unis^[1]. Elle se rencontre :

• dans le nord de l'Alabama ;
• dans le nord-ouest de la Géorgie ;
• dans le Tennessee.

Sa présence est incertaine dans le nord-est du Mississippi.

Description

Le mâle holotype mesure 85,5 mm de longueur totale dont 44,8 mm de longueur standard et 40,7 mm de queue^[2].

Étymologie

Cette espèce a été nommée en référence à ses mœurs apparemment aquatiques^[3].

Publication originale

• Rose & Bush, 1963 : A new species of Eurycea (Amphibia: Caudata) from the southeastern United States. Tulane Studies in Zoology, vol. 10, p. 121-128 (texte intégral).

Notes et références

Eurycea aquatica é um anfíbio caudado da família Plethodontidae endémica dos Estados Unidos da América.

Referências

• Rose and Bush, 1963, Tulane Stud. Zool., 10: 121.
• Petranka, 1998, Salamand. U.S. Canada: 241-242.
• Frost, Darrel R. 2008. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 5.2 (15 July, 2008). Electronic Database accessible at [1] American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Eurycea aquatica . Accessed on 5 August 2008.
• AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. 2008. Berkeley, California: Eurycea aquatica. AmphibiaWeb, available at http://amphibiaweb.org/.

Eurycea aquatica — вид земноводних з роду Струмкова саламандра родини Безлегеневі саламандри.

Опис

Дрібні саламандри, завдовжки 30-40 мм. Тіло коричневого забрвлення. У самців голова ширша ніж у самиць.

Розповсюдження

Мешкає у чистих, прісних джерелах та струмках на південному сході США у штатах Алабама, Джорджія та Теннессі.

Джерела

• Rose and Bush, 1963, Tulane Stud. Zool., 10: 121.
• Petranka, 1998, Salamand. U.S. Canada: 241–242.