West Virginia Spring Salamander

The West Virginia Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus subterraneus) is a species of salamander in the Plethodontidae family. It is endemic to the United States.

Its natural habitats are inland karsts and caves. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The salamander is only found in the General Davis Cave in Greenbrier County and is critically impaired. General Davis Cave forms the downstream end of the 3.5 mi² Davis Hollow drainage basin. This cave has been purchased by The Nature Conservancy and is closed to the public in order to protect this salamander and a small bat colony.

References

• Besharse, J.C. & J.R. Holsinger. 1977. Gyrinophilus subterraneus, a new troglobitic salamander from southern West Virginia. Copeia, vol. 1977, no. 4, pp. 624-634.
• Hammerson, G & Beachy, C. 2004. Gyrinophilus subterraneus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 23 July 2007.
• Salamanders of West Virginia by Thomas Pauley
• Culver, David. C, Kane, Thomas C, Fong, Daniel. 1995. Harvard University Press. "Adaptation and Natural Selection in Caves," the Evolution of Gammarus minus" ISBN: 0674004256
• Jones, William K. Karst Waters Institute. 1997. "Karst Hydrology Atlas of West Virginia" ISBN: 0-9640258-3-3

External links

• The Greenbrier River Watershed Association for more information about the karstic biota of the region
• The Nature Conservancy in West Virginia
• West Virginia Cave Conservancy A 501(c)3 Nonprofit dedicated to acquiring caves and the conservation and protection of caves within West Virginia.
• National Speleological Society The purpose of this Society shall be to promote interest in and to advance in any and all ways the study and science of speleology, the protection of caves and their natural contents, and to promote fellowship among those interested therein.