Researchers discover new species of salamander from Gulf Coastal plains hotspot
Discovery sheds light on a region that is understudied, but species-rich


Date:
May 3, 2022
Source:
George Washington University
Summary:
There are approximately 750 species of salamander known to science,
a third of which reside in North America. Now, a team of researchers
has discovered a new species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander
from the Gulf Coastal Plain of southeastern Mississippi and
southwestern Alabama.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== There are approximately 750 species of salamander known to science,
a third of which reside in North America. Now, a team of researchers
led by R. Alexander Pyron, the Robert F. Griggs Associate Professor
of Biology at the George Washington University, has discovered a new
species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander from the Gulf Coastal Plain
of southeastern Mississippi and southwestern Alabama.


==========================================================================
The discovery increases knowledge of the biodiversity in the southeastern United States Coastal Plain, a candidate region meeting the global
criteria for a biodiversity hotspot. According to the researchers,
the region has been studied intensively for hundreds of years, but
nonetheless still contains abundant undescribed diversity.

"This discovery shows us how much more there is to learn even in our
own backyards," Pyron said. "The famed naturalist E.O. Wilson called
this region 'America's Amazon,' where ivory-billed woodpeckers and red
wolves once lived.

We are losing biodiversity at a dramatic rate, while still discovering
how much was originally there. Salamanders are among the most imperiled
animals globally, and we've yet to understand their true biodiversity."
The researchers determined that the new species of salamander, known
as Desmognathus pascagoula, is similar to another recently discovered
species known as Desmognathus valentinei.However, certain morphological, genetic and geographic aspects of the new species differ. The researchers sequenced the genomes from D. valentinei and D. pascagoulaspecimens,
revealing genetic variations in 881 different genes. They also compared
the body structure of D.

pascagoula with D. valentineiand Desmognathus conanti,another species
that occurs in the area, using collections from the Smithsonian's
National Museum of Natural History. They found subtle but significant differences: D.

pascagoulahas a longer, more slender body and a narrower head and
nostrils.

"Many of these dusky salamanders are cryptic, meaning they can't
easily be told apart with the naked eye, which is one reason they went undiscovered for so long," Pyron said. "Only with genome sequencing can
we see how different they really are. Then, precise measurements of
preserved specimens reveal tiny differences in things like the width
of the head, which are otherwise imperceptible." According to the
researchers, additional work will be needed to provide insight both
into the biology of D. pascagoula, as well as its former and current geographical extent. Pyron encourages other researchers in the field or
citizen scientists searching for the species to focus on images of the
lateral surfaces of the body and head, such that "portholes," postocular stripes, and snouts are clearly visible. Future research may also reveal
the presence of other undescribed species of Desmognathus in the Coastal
Plain of the southeastern U.S.

The National Science Foundation (DEB-1655737, DEB-1656111 and DGE-0947944) supported this research.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by George_Washington_University. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. R. Alexander Pyron, Kyle A. O'connell, Jennifer Y. Lamb, David
A. Beamer.

A new, narrowly endemic species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander
(Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Gulf Coastal Plain
of Mississippi and Alabama. Zootaxa, 2022; 5133 (1): 53 DOI:
10.11646/zootaxa.5133.1.3 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220503102856.htm

--- up 9 weeks, 1 day, 10 hours, 50 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)