Plethodon jordani / glutinosus
along Ball Creek Road, Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory
September 17, 2005

Table 1 (of 4)

Scores for white spots at different elevations

Altitude Score for white spots
(feet) 0 1 2 3
2250 - - 2 8
2550 - - 7 5
2700 - 3 6 2
2850 4 8 - -
3150 7 2 3 -
3450 8 2 1 -

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 7 3 - -
2550 4 5 1 -
2700 4 3 2 2
2850 - 5 5 2
3150 - 1 2 9
3450 - - 4 7

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

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, 6 (one possible hybrid with E. longicauda)
Desmognathus ochrophaeus, 1
Rana sylvestris, 1

Notes: soil damp, but no recent rain