Scott Bar salamander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scott Bar salamander |
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The Scott Bar salamander (Plethodon asupak) is a special type of salamander. It belongs to a group called Plethodontidae. This salamander lives only in a very small area of the United States. You can find it in Siskiyou County, California, near the Scott River. Scientists first described this species in 2005. This makes it one of the most recently discovered salamanders in its large family.
What Does It Look Like?
The Scott Bar salamander is a medium-sized and strong salamander. It has long legs. Male salamanders grow to about 61 millimeters (2.4 inches) long. This measurement is from their nose to the base of their tail. Females are a bit longer, reaching about 67 millimeters (2.6 inches).
This salamander has a wide stripe on its back. This stripe is usually brown or bronze. The rest of its body is purplish-gray. It also has small white spots. These spots become bigger patches on its sides and legs. Its belly is dark gray or purplish. It has lighter gray spots and white flecks there. The salamander often has gold spots in its eyes, which are otherwise black. Young salamanders have two reddish stripes on their backs.
Where Does It Live?
This salamander lives only in California. It prefers cool, shady places. You can find it on slopes covered with moss and loose rocks. These areas are usually in old forests. These forests have a mix of evergreen and fir trees.
Scientists first found this salamander in 2001. It is known from only a few spots. These spots are near where the Klamath River and Scott River meet. That is why it is called the Scott Bar salamander. Its home area is very small. It is only about 20 kilometers (13 miles) across at its widest point. It lives at heights between 700 and 1300 meters (2,300 to 4,300 feet) above sea level.
Is It in Danger?
The Scott Bar salamander has a very small home range. It also needs old forests to live in. Because of this, it is at risk from logging. Logging is when trees are cut down. Even in the national forest where it lives, logging can happen under certain rules.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature is a group that studies animals. They have said that the Scott Bar salamander is a vulnerable species. This means it is at risk of becoming endangered if its habitat is not protected.
