Desmognathus fuscus (Green, 1818)

Class: Amphibia > Order: Caudata > Family: Plethodontidae > Subfamily: Plethodontinae > Genus: Desmognathus > Species: Desmognathus fuscus

Salamandra fusca Green, 1818, J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1: 357. Type(s): Not stated or known to exist, although ANSP 1228 regarded as the likely holotype by Pyron and Beamer, 2020, Zootaxa, 4838: 233. Junior primary homonym of Salamandra fusca Laurenti, 1768 (= Salamandra atra) but see comment. Type locality: "found under a rail in a moist place, some distance from a stream", presumably in the vicinity of Princeton, New Jersey, USA, the residence of Green at the time. See Pyron and Beamer, 2020, Zootaxa, 4838: 231–235, and Pyron and Beamer, 2023, Zootaxa, 5311: 469, for detailed discussion of the complex nomenclature of this name and it application to this lineage. 

Salamandra nigra Green, 1818, J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1: 352. Type(s): Not designated or known to exist; ANSP 900 designated neotype by Pyron and Beamer, 2020, Zootaxa, 4838: 228. Type locality: "Inhabits shallow water", presumably in the vicinity of Princeton, New Jersey, USA, the residence of Green at the time. Neotype from “near Phila[delphia].,” Pennsylvania or New Jersey, USA. See nomenclatural discussion and synonymy by Pyron and Beamer, 2020, Zootaxa, 4838: 226–228.

Triturus fuscus Rafinesque, 1820, Ann. Nat., Lexington, 1: 4. Type(s): Not designated or known to exist. Type locality: "in the northern parts of the state of New York, in small brooks", USA. Treated by many authors as a subsequent use of Salamandra fusca Green, 1818 (e.g., Dunn, 1926, Salamanders Fam. Plethodontidae: 81); Triturus fuscus Rafinesque was clearly intended as a new name. Placed on the Official List of Specific Names in Zoology by Direction 57, Anonymous, 1956, Opin. Declar. Internatl. Comm. Zool. Nomencl., 10: 373. Treated as the valid name for the Northern Dusky Salamander (according to Pyron and Beamer, 2020, Zootaxa, 4838: 235) by most authors starting with Baird, 1850 "1849", J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Ser. 2, 1: 285. Designated a junior subjective synonym of Salamandra fusca Green, 1818 by Pyron and Beamer, 2020, Zootaxa, 4838: 235.

Triturus nebulosus Rafinesque, 1820, Ann. Nat., Lexington, 1: 5. Type(s): Not designated or known to exist. Type locality: "near New York, at Harlem and Long Island", New York, USA. Synonymy by 82, who gave priority to Triturus fuscus Rafinesque, 1820. Synonym with Triturus fuscus Rafinesque, 1820 by  Baird, 1850 "1849", J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Ser. 2, 1: xxx. 

Salamandra picta Harlan, 1825, J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 5: 136. Holotype: Not stated, although Harlan, 1827, J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 5: 333, notes ANSP specimens. Type locality: "Inhabit shallow brooks in the vicinity of this city [Philadelphia]". Synonymy (with Triton niger) by Holbrook, 1842, N. Am. Herpetol., Ed. 2, 5: : 81, Gray, 1850, Cat. Spec. Amph. Coll. Brit. Mus., Batr. Grad.: 40 (with Desmognathus niger), and Boulenger, 1882, Cat. Batr. Grad. Batr. Apoda Coll. Brit. Mus., Ed. 2: 77.

Salamandra intermixta Green, 1825, Port Folio and N.Y. Month. Mag., 20: 159. Holotype: Not stated although possibly originally in ANSP. Type locality: "common in the neighbourhood of this city [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]. It is also found in the southern states", USA; given as "Jefferson College, Pennsylvania", USA by Schmidt, 1953, Check List N. Am. Amph. Rept., Ed. 6: 29. Synonymy (with Salamandra picta) by Harlan, 1835, Med. Phys. Res.: 98. Synonymy (with Salamandra nigra) by Gray, 1850, Cat. Spec. Amph. Coll. Brit. Mus., Batr. Grad.: 40. Synonymy with Triturus fuscus by Baird, 1850 "1849", J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Ser. 2, 1: 285, and Boulenger, 1882, Cat. Batr. Grad. Batr. Apoda Coll. Brit. Mus., Ed. 2: 77.

Salamandra quadramaculata Holbrook, 1840, N. Am. Herpetol., 4: plate 26 prior to p. 121. Holotype: Specimen figured in pl. 26 of original; ANSP 490 according to Brame and Gorham, 1972, Checklist Living & Fossil Salamand. World (Unpubl. MS): 160; thought to no longer exist by Dunn, 1926, Salamanders Fam. Plethodontidae: 64. Pyron and Beamer, 2022, Zootaxa, 5134: 151, designated ANSP 821 as lectotype. Type locality: ". . . extended in the Atlantic states . . . common in Georgia and Carolina, and is an inhabitant of Pennsylvania", USA; invalidly restricted to "Great Smoky Mountains", USA, by Schmidt, 1953, Check List N. Am. Amph. Rept., Ed. 6: 32; Valentine, 1974, Cat. Am. Amph. Rept., 153: 1, noted that this should be construed as the North Carolina, USA, side of the Great Smoky Mountains. Fouquette and Dubois, 2014, Checklist N.A. Amph. Rept.: 179, suggested that the type locality restriction is invalid and that (citing a personal comm. from D. B. Wake) this name may not apply to the species to which it is currently allocated but instead to Desmognathus fuscus. Lectotype from "Penns[ylvania].], USA. See discussion by  Pyron and Beamer, 2023, Zootaxa, 5311: 473. 

Salamandra maculo-quadrata Holbrook, 1840, N. Am. Herpetol., 4: 121. Alternative original name. See discussion by Adler, 1976, Holbrook’s N. Am. Herpetol.: xl.

Salamandra quadrimaculata — Holbrook, 1842, N. Am. Herpetol., Ed. 2, 5: 49. Incorrect subsequent spelling.

Triton niger — Holbrook, 1842, N. Am. Herpetol., Ed. 2, 5: : 81.

Plethodon fuscum — Duméril, Bibron, and Duméril, 1854, Erp. Gen., 9: 85.

Molge brunnea Duméril, Bibron, and Duméril, 1854, Erp. Gen., 9: 86. Nomen nudum attributed to Valenciennes. Synonymy by Dunn, 1926, Salamanders Fam. Plethodontidae: 82.

Molge arenatus Duméril, Bibron, and Duméril, 1854, Erp. Gen., 9: 86. Nomen nudum attributed to Valenciennes. Synonymy by Dunn, 1926, Salamanders Fam. Plethodontidae: 82.

Ambystome quadrimaculatus — Duméril, Bibron, and Duméril, 1854, Erp. Gen., 9: 109. Incorrect subsequent spelling of Ambystoma and quadramaculatus.

Molge brunnea Duméril, Bibron, and Duméril, 1854, Erp. Gen., 9: : 86; nomen nudum attributed to Valenciennes and allocated to Plethodon fuscum (Green, 1818). Designated junior subjective synonym of Triturus fuscus Rafinesque, 1820 by Dunn (1926). See Dubois (2022) for additional detail.

Molge arenatus Duméril, Bibron, and Duméril, 1854, Erp. Gen., 9: 86; nomen nudum attributed to Valenciennes and allocated to Plethodon fuscum (Green, 1818). Designated junior subjective synonym of Triturus fuscus Rafinesque, 1820 by Dunn (1926). See Dubois (2022) for additional detail.

Salamandra phoca Matthes, 1855, Allg. Deutsche Naturhist. Zeitung,, N.S.,, 1: 273. Holotype: Not stated or known to exist, but likely originally in NHMW. Type locality: "Taylors-Creeck in Kentucky unweit New-Port" = Taylor's Creek, opposite the town of Miami, on the west bank of the Miami River, Ohio, about 14 miles northwest of Newport, Campbell County, Kentucky, USA. Desmognathus monticola Dunn, 1916, following Dunn, 1923, Proc. New England Zool. Club, 8: 39) until Grobman, 1945, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 58: 39–43, designated it a junior subjective synonym of Triturus fuscus Rafinesque, 1820.

Plethodon quadrimaculatus — Hallowell, 1856, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 8: 11. Based on species other than Desmognathus fuscus, although the name is tied to Desmognathus fuscus. 

Desmognathus fusca — Cope, 1859, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 11: 124.

Desmognathus fusca var. fusca — Cope, 1889, Bull. U.S. Natl. Mus., 34: 195.

Desmognathus quadrimaculata — Stejneger, 1902, Proc. U.S. Natl. Mus., 26: 557. Gender disagreement. Based on species other than Desmognathus fuscus, although the name is tied to Desmognathus fuscus. 

Desmognathus quadrimaculatus — Brimley, 1907, J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc., 23: 154.

Spelerpes fuscus — Werner, 1909, Amph. Rept., 1: 10. 

Desmognathus fuscus fuscus — Stejneger and Barbour, 1917, Check List N. Am. Amph. Rept.: 22.

Desmognathus quadramaculata — Dunn, 1917, Proc. U.S. Natl. Mus., 53: 401.

Desmognathus phoca — Dunn, 1923, Proc. New England Zool. Club, 8: 39.

Desmognathus quadramaculatus quadramaculatus — Bishop, 1943, Handb. Salamanders: 210. Based on species other than Desmognathus fuscus, although the name is tied to Desmognathus fuscus. 

Desmognathus (Desmognathus) fuscus — Dubois and Raffaëlli, 2012, Alytes, 28: 144. See comment under Desmognathus regarding the status of this subgenus. 

Desmognathus (Leurognathus) quadramaculatus — Dubois and Raffaëlli, 2012, Alytes, 28: 145. See comment under Desmognathus for status of subgenus. 

English Names

Black Ebbet (Triturus fuscus: Rafinesque, 1820, Ann. Nat., Lexington, 1: 4).

Black Salamander (Salamandra nigra: Green, 1818, J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1: 352; Gray, 1831, in Cuvier, Animal Kingdom (Griffith), 9—Appendix: 107; Jordan, 1878, Man. Vert. North. U.S., Ed. 2: 192; Davis and Rice, 1883, Bull. Chicago Acad. Sci., 1: 27; Rhoads, 1895, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 47: 400).

White-nosed Salamander (Salamandra sinciput-albida [no longer recognized]: Green, 1818, J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1: 352).

Whate-faced Salamander (Salamandra sinciput-albida [no longer recognized]: Gray, 1831, in Cuvier, Animal Kingdom (Griffith), 9—Appendix: 107).

Brown Salamander (Salamandra fusca: Green, 1818, J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1: 357).

Painted Salamander (Salamandra picta [no longer recognized]: Storer, 1839, Rep. Ichthyol. Herpetol. Massachusetts: 251; Storer, 1840, Boston J. Nat. Hist., 3: 51).

Black Triton (Desmognathus nigra [no longer recognized]: Yarrow, 1882, Bull. U.S. Natl. Mus., 24: 22; Brimley, 1907, J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc., 23: 154).

Painted Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus: Verrill, 1863, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 9: 199).

Dusky Triton (Triton niger: De Kay, 1842, Zool. New York, 1(3): 85).

Painted Salamander (Salamandra picta: Gray, 1831, in Cuvier, Animal Kingdom (Griffith), 9—Appendix: 107).

Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus: Jordan, 1878, Man. Vert. North. U.S., Ed. 2: 192; Davis and Rice, 1883, Bull. Chicago Acad. Sci., 1: 27; Rhoads, 1895, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 47: 400; Fowler, 1907, Annu. Rep. N.J. State Mus. for 1906: 74; Schmidt, 1953, Check List N. Am. Amph. Rept., Ed. 6: 29; Conant, Cagle, Goin, Lowe, Neill, Netting, Schmidt, Shaw, Stebbins, and Bogert, 1956, Copeia, 1956: 174; Collins, Huheey, Knight, and Smith, 1978, Herpetol. Circ., 7: 5; Tilley, Highton, and Wake, 2012, in Crother (ed.), Herpetol. Circ., 39: 25; Powell, Conant, and Collins, 2016, Field Guide Rept. Amph. E. North Am., 4th ed.: 45).

Brown salamander (Salamandra fusca: Gray, 1831, in Cuvier, Animal Kingdom (Griffith), 9—Appendix: 107).

Brown Triton (Desmognathus fusca: Hay, 1892, Annu. Rep. Dept. Geol. Nat. Res. Indiana for 1891: 451).

Black Water Lizard (Fowler, 1907, Annu. Rep. N.J. State Mus. for 1906: 74).

Brown Newt (Fowler, 1907, Annu. Rep. N.J. State Mus. for 1906: 74).

Yellow Salamander (Fowler, 1907, Annu. Rep. N.J. State Mus. for 1906: 74).

Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus: Collins, 1997, Herpetol. Circ., 25: 6; Crother, Boundy, Campbell, de Queiroz, Frost, Highton, Iverson, Meylan, Reeder, Seidel, Sites, Taggart, Tilley, and Wake, 2001 "2000", Herpetol. Circ., 29: 21; Tilley, Highton, and Wake, 2012, in Crother (ed.), Herpetol. Circ., 39: 16; Collins and Taggart, 2009, Standard Common Curr. Sci. Names N. Am. Amph. Turtles Rept. Crocodil., ed. 6: 12; Highton, Bonett, and Jockusch, 2017, in Crother (ed.), Herpetol. Circ., 43: 25; Raffaëlli, 2022, Salamanders & Newts of the World: 990).

Brown Triton (Desmognathus fuscus: Yarrow, 1882, Bull. U.S. Natl. Mus., 24: 22; Brimley, 1907, J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc., 23: 154).

Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus fuscus [no longer recognized]: Bishop, 1943, Handb. Salamanders: 188; Schmidt, 1953, Check List N. Am. Amph. Rept., Ed. 6: 29; Conant, Cagle, Goin, Lowe, Neill, Netting, Schmidt, Shaw, Stebbins, and Bogert, 1956, Copeia, 1956: 174; Conant, 1975, Field Guide Rept. Amph. E. Cent. N. Am., Ed. 2: 261; Collins, Huheey, Knight, and Smith, 1978, Herpetol. Circ., 7: 5; Frank and Ramus, 1995, Compl. Guide Scient. Common Names Amph. Rept. World: 31; Collins, 1997, Herpetol. Circ., 25: 6).

Note that various common names associated with the name Desmognathus quadramaculatus are not listed due to these based on other species. 

Distribution

Southern New Brunswick and southern Quebec (Canada) south of the Great Lakes and west to southeastern Indiana, western Kentucky, northeastern Tennessee, and northwestern North Carolina, USA. 

Geographic Occurrence

Natural Resident: Canada, United States of America, United States of America - Connecticut, United States of America - Delaware, United States of America - District of Columbia, United States of America - Indiana, United States of America - Kentucky, United States of America - Maine, United States of America - Maryland, United States of America - Massachusetts, United States of America - New Hampshire, United States of America - New Jersey, United States of America - New York, United States of America - North Carolina, United States of America - Ohio, United States of America - Pennsylvania, United States of America - Rhode Island, United States of America - Tennessee, United States of America - Vermont, United States of America - Virginia, United States of America - West Virginia

Comment

See comments under Desmognathus conanti and Desmognathus santeetah. Literature prior to the revisions of Pyron and Beamer, 2020, Zootaxa, 4838: 231–235, and Pyron and Beamer, 2023, Zootaxa, 5311: 451–504, should be used with caution due to the chaotic application of names in earlier literature. Karlin and Guttman, 1981, Copeia, 1981: 371–377, reported on hybridization with Desmognathus ochrophaeus in northeastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania, USA. Bonett, 2002, Copeia, 2002: 344–355, studied the contact zone of Desmognathus conanti and Desmognathus fuscus and further confirmed the distinctiveness of these species and further noted that Desmognathus fuscus may be composed of at least two cryptic species. Kozak, Larson, Bonett, and Harmon, 2005, Evolution, 59: 2000–2016, provided a molecular phylogenetics study that suggested two species under this name. Tilley, Eriksen, and Katz, 2008, Zool. J. Linn. Soc., 152: 115–130, noted a population along the Blue Ridge escarpments in southern Virginia that might represent an unnamed species. Beamer and Lamb, 2008, Mol. Phylogenet. Evol., 47: 143–153, found population of nominal Desmognathus fuscus that they demonstrated to be substantially differentiated at the molecular level, although very conservative morphologically. Weller and Cebek, 1991, Herpetol. Rev., 22: 23, provided a number of localities from Quebec, Canada. Tilley, Bernardo, Katz, López, Roll, Eriksen, Kratovil, Bittner, and Crandall, 2013, Ecol. Evol., 3: 2547–2567, documented complex discordant patterns of mtDNA (cytochrome B) and morphology between this species, Desmognathus carolinensis, and a form referred to as the "Sinking Creek" population, as well as that species with Desmognathus conanti in eastern Tennessee. Petranka, 1998, Salamand. U.S. Canada: 173–181, provided a detailed account in which Desmognathus conanti was retained as a subspecies. Means, 2005, in Lannoo (ed.), Amph. Declines: 708–710, provided an account containing a detailed summary of the literature and range. Raffaëlli, 2013, Urodeles du Monde, 2nd ed.: 425–426, provided a brief account, photograph, and range map. Altig and McDiarmid, 2015, Handb. Larval Amph. US and Canada: 103, provided an account of larval morphology. Pyron, O'Connell, Lemmon, Lemmon, and Beamer, 2020, Mol. Phylogenet. Evol., 146 (106751): 1–13, suggested on molecular grounds that this nominal species is a complex. Pyron and Beamer, 2020, Zootaxa, 4838: 221–247, provided an extensive nomenclatural discussion. Pyron, O'Connell, Lemmon, Lemmon, and Beamer, 2022, Ecol. Evol., 12 (2: e8574): 1–38, noted that nominal Desmognathus fuscus contains at least five lineage-species. Raffaëlli, 2022, Salamanders & Newts of the World: 990–994, provided an account summarizing systematics, morphology, life history, population status, and distribution (including a polygon map). 

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