Dietary Comparison of Eurycea cirrigera (Southern Two-lined Salamander) Larvae from Pond and Stream Habitats in Southern West Virginia

We give the first dietary report for a lentic population of two-lined salamander larvae (Eurycea bislineata complex) and the first dietary comparison of lentic and lotic populations simultaneously. Diets of Eurycea cirrigera (Southern Two-lined salamander) larvae were investigated from pond and stream habitats in southern West Virginia during 1994 and 1995. Pond larvae consumed nine prey taxa dominated by chironomid larvae and ostracods, with copepods contributing significantly on most sampling dates. Stream larvae consumed 15 prey taxa dominated by copepods, isopods, and chironomid larvae. Seasonal shifts in diet were apparent at both sites. Comparisons between sites (D = % dietary overlap and rs = Spearman rank correlation coefficient) indicate that larval diets are different at each site (D = 8.1-41.8; rs =-0.4091 to 0.5606, p = 0.l0-0.96). This is most likely due to differences in prey availability at each site. These results emphasize the generalist nature of Two-lined salamander larvae

Reproduction in West Virginia Populations of the Southern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera)

We describe reproduction in West Virginia populations of the southern two-lined salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) and provide insights into the behavioral ecology of this wide-ranging urodele. The first signs of reproduction are evident well before the arrival of Spring. Sexually mature adults inhabit the cold, rocky streams of southwestern West Virginia in early February. Females arc known by the presence of large oocytes visible through the body wall and males by their extremely swollen heads. Breeding occurs in the stream during late March and is marked by the presence of gravid females with sperm caps in their posterior cloacae. Eggs are deposited from mid-March through early April on the underside of flat rocks in cool, shallow, and swiftly flowing streams. Females guard their nests against potential predators, including other two-lined salamanders. Hatchlings emerge as miniature adults with gills after several months of development

Notes on the Distribution and Natural History of the Eastern Wormsnake (Carphophis amoenus amoenus) in West Virginia

Small fossorial snakes, such as the Eastern Wormsnake (Carphophis amoenus amoenus), are often neglected in studies since they lead a fossorial life and are frequently hard to find. Since it was last studied nearly 40 years ago, we present an update on distribution, habitat preferences, and diet of the Eastern Wormsnake in West Virginia. We found that this species resides in only a fraction of its original range due to habitat destruction by industrial, residential, and commercial developments. Habitat data suggests this species can tolerate a range of soil temperatures (15–24 °C), air temperatures (23.1 degrees Celsius), and relative humidity (24.5-80%), and can be found on nearly all slope directions. Dietary analysis showed annelids make up the majority of their diet but other invertebrate prey are also taken

Notes on the life history of the southern two-lined salamander, Eurycea cirrigera, in West Virginia

Abstract published in the proceedings of the 1997 Annual Meeting of the West Virginia Academy of Science

SEASONAL INCIDENCE OF CAPTURE AND REPRODUCTION OF FIVE FOSSORIAL SNAKE SPECIES IN WEST VIRGINIA

Museum specimens of five species of fossorial snakes collected in West Virginia during 1930–2000 were examined to determine monthly incidence of capture, adult body sizes, reproductive cycle, and clutch characteristics. Captures occurred over the shortest time in the year in the Eastern Earthsnake (Virginia valeriae valeriae) and Northern Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata) and were longest in the Northern Brownsnake (S. dekayi dekayi). Male gonadal cycle conformed to the temperate pattern, whereas that of females tended towards a tropical pattern. Incidence of females nearing oviposition or parturition was highest during June–July for all species, and length of their reproductive seasons were generally in keeping with those of northerly populations of the respective species. Mean clutch sizes were largest in the Northern Brownsnake (mean = 20.5) and smallest in the single oviparous snake, the Eastern Wormsnake (mean = 2.8). Adult body sizes were similar to respective populations elsewhere within their ranges. The Mountain Earth Snake (V. pulchra) was the least represented species in this study. A meaningful degree of predictability existed in the life history traits examined in our study as they related to geographic trends of this Allegheny snake assemblage

An Unusually Colored Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinerus) From Northern Virginia

We describe an orange-pink, patternless, translucent morph of the Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) found in northern Virginia on 27 September 2001. This is the first description of this unusual phenotype in this terrestrial salamander

Conservation Status and Habitat Use of the West Virginia Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus Subterraneus) and Spring Salamander (G. Porphyriticus) in General Davis Cave, Greenbrier Co., West Virginia

The West Virginia Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus subterraneus) is one of four obligate cave-dwelling species of plethodontid salamanders found east of the Mississippi River in the United States. This species is endemic to a single cave system; General Davis Cave, in Greenbrier Co., West Virginia, where it is syntopic with the closely-related Spring Salamander (G. porphyriticus). Accordingly, the West Virginia Spring Salamander is a species of critical conservation concern. Because of it\u27s conservation status and lack of data regarding the ecology and life history, particularly about population trends, we present data on relative abundance of and habitat use by the West Virginia Spring Salamander during a 33-year period from 1975-2008. Specifically we address: (1) stability of the population during the last 33 years; (2) variation in habitat use by life stage and between species (Spring Salamanders and West Virginia Spring Salamanders); (3) plausibility of neoteny in the West Virginia Spring Salamander; and (4) the conservation status of the West Virginia Spring Salamander. We recorded 324 observations of Gyrinophilus salamanders, of which 192 were West Virginia Spring Salamanders, within the study area during 17 surveys. While both larval and metamorphosed West Virginia Spring Salamanders were encountered, only metamorphosed Spring Salamanders were observed. West Virginia Spring Salamander larvae were encountered in pools more often than in riffle habitat. Spring Salamanders were encountered more often in terrestrial habitats versus aquatic habitats. West Virginia Spring Salamanders reach relatively large size before metamorphosing, with some individuals becoming sexual mature as larvae. It remains unknown whether any of these individuals reproduce, however. Although the populations of both species appear to be stable over the past 33 years and not in immediate danger of extinction, the West Virginia Spring Salamander is still in critical conservation concern because of it\u27s extremely restricted distribution and current threats to the cave system it resides in

Conservation Status of the Southern Appalachian Herpetofauna

Seventy one species of amphibians (55 salamanders, 16 anurans) and 46 species of reptiles (15 turtles, 8 lizards, 23 snakes) inhabit a five state area (Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia) in the southern Appalachian region bordered by the Potomac River, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the western margin of the Appalachian Plateau. Of these, 47.9 % of the amphibian fauna and 52.2 % of the reptilian fauna are listed as being of conservation concern by federal, state, and Natural Heritage programs in all or a portion of their ranges of this region. The Shenandoah salamander (Plethodon Shenandoah) is listed as Endangered and the Cheat Mountain salamander (Plethodon Shenandoah) is listed as Endangered and the Cheat Mountain salamander (Plethodon nettingi) is listed as Threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Nine others are classified as federal species at risk. State endangered species number 1-3 (per state), threatened 1-4, and special concern or declining 6-19. Three to 6 species per state are additionally listed as natural heritage S1 and 2-13 as S2. We review the existing and potential threats to species and populations (e.g., timbering, urbanization, collection for the wildlife trade, acid precipitation, introduced species) and provide an assessment of the conservation status of the southern Appalachian herpetofauna based on land ownership