CA/OR: New salamander species identified

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 5/17/05 | William McCall - AP

[NormsRevenge]

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A new species of salamander has been identified in the Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon and Northern California, demonstrating the biological richness of the region, researchers say.

The Scott Bar salamander, classified as Plethodon asupak, had been considered to be a member of the Siskiyou Mountains salamander species, or Plethodon stormi, until genetic analysis showed a distinct evolutionary line, said Joseph Vaile of the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center in Ashland.

"Everyone talks about how biologically rich the tropics are, but we are still discovering species right here in the Klamath-Siskiyou," Vaile said.

The word "asupak" is the Shasta Indian name for Scott Bar, an area near the confluence of the Scott and Klamath rivers.

Dave Clayton, a U.S. Forest Service biologist, led the study. The genetic analysis was done at Oregon State University.

The species dates from the Pleistocene era, a geologic period that stretches from 1.8 million years to 10,000 years ago. The newly identified species is believed to have survived the last ice age, Vaile said.

"It's pretty rare to find a new species of something that actually has four legs," Vaile said. "Usually, it's something like a new lichen, or maybe an insect. This is really an exciting discovery."

The Scott Bar salamander lives in the extreme northwestern corner of California on rocky slopes under mature and old-growth forest. The dense forest canopy helps retain moisture that is key for the survival of the salamander, which is highly sensitive to drying out.

The species has no lungs and instead breathes directly through its skin.

Environmental groups petitioned the Bush administration last year to protect the Siskiyou Mountains salamander and any related or distinct populations under the Endangered Species Act.

The research leading to the identification of the new species was funded by the Forest Service. The results will be published in the June edition of the quarterly journal Herpetologica.

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On the Net:

The Herpetologists' League, publisher of Herpetologica: http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/HL/HL.html

Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center: http://www.ksweild.org

[NormsRevenge]

The species has no lungs and instead breathes directly through its skin.

---- tastes just like chicken, too. ;-)

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

List of Ping lists

[Luigi Vasellini]

Plethodontidae is the family of lungless sallys. The red-back sal is Plethodon cinereus. Very common in northeast

[Issaquahking]

The species dates from the Pleistocene era, a geologic period that stretches from 1.8 million years to 10,000 years ago. The newly identified species is believed to have survived the last ice age, Vaile said.

Environmental groups petitioned the Bush administration last year to protect the Siskiyou Mountains salamander and any related or distinct populations under the Endangered Species Act.

Gee, the thing has been around for almost 2 million years possibly, so I have to ask "What qualify's it to be an ESA critter?" It will probably outlast us.. stupid, treehugging, greenies never consider anything but power and control over anyone they can con out of a buck.

[F.J. Mitchell]

LOL! Everything tastes just like chicken, except for chicken-chicken tastes just like one or the other of the Col's famous secret recipes.

It is easy to see where this New Salamander species discovery will be going. Soon the word will be out that the survival of this species depends upon ridding the entire planet of humans. We need to check with the lemmings and reserve a time when they have no mass suicides scheduled, so we don't have a long wait before we jump.

[cmsgop]

Human's taste like pork.

[editor-surveyor]

Ah yes, a new old species. Guaranteed to be endangered, because it lives in the forest, and we all know what good enviro-wackos want to do to the forest: Burn it to the ground!

[SierraWasp]

Wull... They're abuncha cross-eyed, bow-legged, ameoba jockies!!!

[Conservative Infidel]

So, is this a new species because no human in recorded history has ever reported seeing it? Or is it a new species due to some sort of evolution thing? Or is it a new species due to some sort of genetic mutation because I drive a SUV??

[Carry_Okie]

Guaranteed, it is biologically not a separate species, but for legal purposes it'll do just fine.

[Redleg Duke]

Okay. That's it. All Liberals must leave Oregon immediately!

[farmfriend]

Gee, the thing has been around for almost 2 million years possibly, so I have to ask "What qualify's it to be an ESA critter?" It will probably outlast us.. stupid, treehugging, greenies never consider anything but power and control over anyone they can con out of a buck.

ROFLMAO!

[Joe Boucher]

New lizard found, stop all work and development in the Northwest.
Wouldn't want to disturb its envirnment.

[knarf]

Prepare, Jeff, for another assault on the Klamoth river basin. I think this time I might quit my job and live free or die.
(It ain't such a drag getting old)(er)
heh heh heh

[oceanperch]

How do you know this?

[knarf]

BOHICA

[SC Swamp Fox]

The Scott Bar salamander, classified as Plethodon asupak, had been considered to be a member of the Siskiyou Mountains salamander species, or Plethodon stormi, until genetic analysis showed a distinct evolutionary line

I'm sure the mice on my favorite island in the swamp have been isolated long enough to have developed a distinct evolutionary line.

[Jeff Head]

---- tastes just like chicken, too

Actually, to me it tasted more like...spotted owl. hehehe!