Plethodon jordani / glutinosus
along Ball Creek Road, Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory
September 13, 2003

Table 1 (of 4)

Scores for white spots at different elevations

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

Explanations of scores . . .

0 -- no white spots anywhere (absence of pigment on undersides does not count as white spots!
1 -- few white spots along sides
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 4 - - -
2550 4 1 2 -
2700 3 4 3 -
2850 1 2 6 4
3150 - 5 2 4
3450 - 2 5 4

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 0 2 2 4
1 2 5 4 1
2 3 5 3 2
3 2 3 3 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 - - - - - 2 3
2550 - - - - 2 2 3
2700 - - 1 3 4 1 1
2850 2 4 3 3 1 - -
3150 - 2 6 2 1 - -
3450 1 4 4 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 . . .

Amphibia
Eurycea bislineata  
Desmognathus ochrophaeus  

Reptiles
Ringneck Snake Disdophis punctulata   4
Eastern Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis   1
Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus   2

Mammals
Southern Flying Squirrel (high-pitched squeaks in trees)

Notes: no recent rain; leaves dry