Plethodon jordani / glutinosus
along Ball Creek Road, Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory
September 6, 2003

Table 1 (of 4)

Scores for white spots at different elevations

Altitude Score for white spots
(feet) 0 1 2 3
2250 - - 3 3
2550 0 1 3 6
2700 0 1 4 6
2850 7 3 3 -
3150 4 8 - -
3450 10 6 1 -

Explanations of scores . . .

0 -- no white spots anywhere (absence of pigment on undersides does not count as white spots!)
1 -- few white spots near the front legs
2 -- white spots along sides from front to rear legs (small individuals can have a few spots on the back)
3 -- white spots on sides and back

 

Table 2 (of 4)

Scores for red on legs at different elevations

Altitude Score for red on legs
(feet) 0 1 2 3
2250 3 2 1 -
2550 4 6 - -
2700 3 6 2 -
2850 2 4 3 4
3150 2 4 - 6
3450 2 5 4 6

Explanations of scores . . .

0 -- no red pigment on any leg
1 -- discontinuous spots of red on fore legs
2 -- continuous red along proximal parts of fore legs and some red on hind legs (more red on hind legs compensates for less on fore legs)
3 -- continuous red on proximal parts of all legs

 

Table 3 (of 4)

Scores for white spots in relation to scores for red on legs
(2550 - 2850 feet only)

Score for Score for white spots
red on legs 0 1 2 3
0 1 2 2 6
1 2 7 5 6
2 3 1 1 0
3 5 4 1 0

 

Table 4 (of 4)

Hairston's index of hybridization (hybrid index)
at different elevations

(hybrid index = score for red on legs MINUS score for white spots)

Altitude Hybrid index (score for red MINUS score for white)
(feet) 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3
2250 - - - 1 1 2 2
2550 - - - 1 3 2 4
2700 - - 1 1 2 5 2
2850 2 4 2 3 1 1 -
3150 3 3 1 3 2 - -
3450 3 6 4 2 2 - -

Note that the hybrid index varies from 3 to -3.
"Pure" jordani have a score of 3 (leg score = 3, spot score = 0).
"Pure" "glutinosus" have a score of -3 (leg score = 0, spot score = 3).

Other species . . .

Amphibians
Desmognathus ochrophaeus   2
Desmognathus monticola   2
Eurycea bislineata   2
Reptiles
Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus) 2
Mammals
Southern Flying Squirrel (high-pitched squeaks in trees)