| Plethodon asupak | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Caudata |
| Family: | Plethodontidae |
| Genus: | Plethodon |
| Species: | P. asupak |
| Binomial name | |
| Plethodon asupak Mead, Clayton, Nauman, Olson & Pfrender, 2005 |
|
Plethodon asupak (Scott Bar Salamander) is a species of salamander in the Plethodontidae family. It is endemic to the United States. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Plethodon asupak is a moderate-size, robust, salamander with long limbs. It is purplish-gray with white flecks that condense on sides and limbs. It frequently has gold spotting in eyes. Juveniles have paired reddish dorsal stripes (Mead et al. 2005). A species endemic to California; it inhabits shaded, moss-covered talus slopes in old growth mixed evergreen and montane fir forests of the Klamath Mountain Range. It was discovered in 2001, currently known from handful of locations near the confluence of Klamath and Scott Rivers, hence its common name "Scott Bar Salamander."
Its range is only 20 km (13 mi) at greatest dimension. Known elevation extends from 1,230 m (1,500 ft) to 3,657 m (2,500 ft) (Field Observations of California Amphibians and Reptiles by William Flaxington).