A new name for the Grotto salamander?
Posted:
Oct 9, 2006 1:48 pmby Uncle Muddy
I've recently read that the troglobitic (blind) Grotto Salamander, typhlotriton spaleus, has been renamed, eurycea spalea, more closely related to the common Cave Salamander, eurycea lucifuga. I haven't heard who renamed the little critter or why. Anybody know? BTW: I'm almost certain that my spelling of the species is less than special.
Eurycea spelaea
Posted:
Oct 10, 2006 9:05 amby nemotin
It is still the grotto salamander only the bionomial has changed. Bonnet and Chippindale (2004) suggested placement of Typhlotriton in Eurycea after examining mitochondrial DNA and a nuclear DNA marker. Frost (2004) changed the name from Eurycea spelaeus to Eurycea spelaea for gender agreement between the genus and specific epithet.
Posted:
Oct 10, 2006 9:32 amby Uncle Muddy
nemotin wrote:It is still the grotto salamander only the bionomial has changed. Bonnet and Chippindale (2004) suggested placement of Typhlotriton in Eurycea after examining mitochondrial DNA and a nuclear DNA marker. Frost (2004) changed the name from Eurycea spelaeus to Eurycea spelaea for gender agreement between the genus and specific epithet.
Thanks, Nemotin. I like all those little cave critters. It's nice to know their names.