A new name for the Grotto salamander?

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A new name for the Grotto salamander?

Postby Uncle Muddy » Oct 9, 2006 1:48 pm

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.
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Eurycea spelaea

Postby nemotin » Oct 10, 2006 9:05 am

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.
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Postby Uncle Muddy » Oct 10, 2006 9:32 am

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.
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