Plethodon ainsworthi Lazell, 1998
Catahoula Salamander, Ainsworth's Salamander Subgenus: Plethodon | family: Plethodontidae subfamily: Plethodontinae genus: Plethodon |
Taxonomic Notes: This taxon, known only from two poorly preserved specimens, one subsequently destroyed is of questionable validity. Himes and Beckett's (2014, Southeastern Naturalist 24: 103-110) morphological studies led them to consider the taxon synonymous with the syntopic Plethodon mississippi. Pierson et al. (2020, J Herpetology 54:137-143) questioned their findings, but were unable to obtain suitable material for molecular studies and confirmed the demineralization of the skeleton that makes skeletal comparisons impossible. They state "we tentatively recommend continued recognition of P. ainsworthi as a valid but possibly extinct taxon". |
|
|
|