Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander |
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The Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander (Aneides caryaensis) is a special type of salamander that doesn't have lungs. It belongs to the Plethodontidae family. This unique creature lives only in the Hickory Nut Gorge in North Carolina, United States. When a species lives only in one specific area, it is called endemic.
About This Salamander
This salamander is part of a group called Castaneides. This group includes the only Aneides salamanders found in eastern North America. For a long time, scientists thought the Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander was just a population of the regular green salamander (Aneides aeneus).
However, a study in 2019 found that it was actually a completely different species. Think of it like finding out two very similar-looking cousins are actually from different branches of the family tree! Genetic tests showed that the Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander is the oldest member of its group. It forms its own unique branch, separate from other similar salamanders.
Scientists believe that long ago, a big change in the environment happened. This change likely turned forests into grasslands, which salamanders don't like. This separated the ancestors of the Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander from other salamander groups. The Hickory Nut Gorge area stayed a forest, becoming a "relict" (leftover) habitat where these salamanders could survive. This is why it's so different from its relatives today.
Where It Lives
This salamander lives only in the Hickory Nut Gorge. This gorge is a 14-mile long canyon in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. It covers about 20,000 acres. Because it lives in such a small area, it's called a microendemic species.
Like its relatives, it likes to live in cracks and hollows of rock outcrops. It also lives in woody areas within "cove forests," which are special types of forests. However, it mostly depends on the rocky areas. Most of these salamanders lay their eggs on rock faces. This means that breeding groups are often found in scattered spots.
What It Looks Like
You can tell the Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander apart from the regular green salamander by its looks. It has smaller, less connected patches of bright to yellowish-green color on its dark body. The regular green salamander, A. aeneus, has larger and more connected green patches. These patches look a bit like lichen growing on rocks.
Status and Protection
The Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander has a very small home range. Even after many searches, scientists have found it in only 25 places. Most of these groups have very few salamanders. Genetic tests also show that these populations have low genetic diversity. This means they might be inbreeding (breeding with close relatives), which can make them less healthy.
The biggest danger to this salamander is the loss and breaking up of its habitat. This happens because of:
- Tourism
- Building new homes and businesses (real estate development)
- Building roads and other transportation structures
- Building things for energy
Since these salamanders are spread out in patches, losing even small parts of their habitat can be very harmful. Because of these threats, the organization NatureServe considers this species "critically imperiled." This means it's in great danger of disappearing.
To protect these salamanders, it's important to:
- Protect areas where they live from development.
- Keep their habitats connected so they can move around safely.
