Yellow-spotted Woodland Salamander

Plethodon pauleyi

Reptiles & AmphibiansIn the app

Plethodon pauleyi has a dark and variable dorsal coloration, ranging from black to brown to gray. The dorsal surface also has small white specks and two rows of yellow sp…

Yellow-spotted Woodland Salamander illustration

How to identify

Plethodon pauleyi has a dark and variable dorsal coloration, ranging from black to brown to gray. The dorsal surface also has small white specks and two rows of yellow spots with irregular edges. The lateral and ventral sides are gray with white mottling that varies in intensity and size. The throat is lighter than the rest of the ventral side and has larger mottling. The coloration of Plethodon pauleyi changes with age, with younger individuals having darker dorsa and more prominent white flecks and mottling than older ones.

Range

The yellow-spotted woodland salamander (Plethodon pauleyi) is distributed throughout the Cumberland Plateau in the states of Kentucky and Tennessee.

Habitat

Plethodon pauleyi is nocturnal and a rock-outcrop specialist. Plethodon pauleyi can be found in shale and sandstone outcrops and rock faces common along the Cumberland Plateau. It may also be found on leaf litter or rocks at the base of outcrops, or in the surrounding woodlands.

Similar species

Plethodon pauleyi is part of the P. wehrlei group, which includes P. dixi (Dixie Cave Salamander), P. jacksoni (Blacksburg Salamander), P. punctatus (Cow Knob salamander), and P. wehrlei (Wehrle's Salamander). It differs from its relatives in several morphological features, such as having yellow dorsal spots in two rows, a lighter gray ventral coloration with less mottling, and two costal grooves between the limbs. It also matures at smaller sizes than P. wehrlei. These characteristics make P. pauleyi unique among the salamanders in its group.