description Fourche Mountain Salamander Overview
The Fourche Mountain salamander (Plethodon fourchensis) is a lungless salamander in the family Plethodontidae that is strictly endemic to west-central Arkansas. Its natural range is highly restricted, primarily inhabiting Fourche Mountain and a few adjacent ridges within the Ouachita Mountain region. This terrestrial species relies on moist forest environments to survive, respiring directly through its skin.
help Fourche Mountain Salamander FAQ
Where can the Fourche Mountain salamander actually be found?
Plethodon fourchensis has an extremely restricted range in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. Confirmed populations occur principally around Fourche Mountain and the Iron Forks mountain range in Montgomery, Polk, and Scott counties.
How can I distinguish Plethodon fourchensis from nearby mountain salamanders?
Adults usually have a black body with two rows of large, irregular pale blotches, scattered smaller spots, and a noticeably pale chin. The related Rich Mountain salamander, Plethodon ouachitae, occurs nearby and can hybridize with it where their ranges meet.
Why is the Fourche Mountain salamander called lungless?
Like other members of the family Plethodontidae, it has no lungs and exchanges gases through its moist skin and tissues in its mouth. This makes cool, damp forest cover and humid spaces beneath rocks or rotting logs essential habitat.
When is Plethodon fourchensis easiest to observe?
Observations are most common during wet spring conditions, especially in April and May after heavy rain. Searchers should replace every rock or log exactly as found because the species occupies a very small geographic range.
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