• Researchers discover new species of sala

    From ScienceDaily@1:317/3 to All on Tue May 3 22:30:40 2022
    Researchers discover new species of salamander from Gulf Coastal plains hotspot
    Discovery sheds light on a region that is understudied, but species-rich


    Date:
    May 3, 2022
    Source:
    George Washington University
    Summary:
    There are approximately 750 species of salamander known to science,
    a third of which reside in North America. Now, a team of researchers
    has discovered a new species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander
    from the Gulf Coastal Plain of southeastern Mississippi and
    southwestern Alabama.



    FULL STORY ========================================================================== There are approximately 750 species of salamander known to science,
    a third of which reside in North America. Now, a team of researchers
    led by R. Alexander Pyron, the Robert F. Griggs Associate Professor
    of Biology at the George Washington University, has discovered a new
    species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander from the Gulf Coastal Plain
    of southeastern Mississippi and southwestern Alabama.


    ==========================================================================
    The discovery increases knowledge of the biodiversity in the southeastern United States Coastal Plain, a candidate region meeting the global
    criteria for a biodiversity hotspot. According to the researchers,
    the region has been studied intensively for hundreds of years, but
    nonetheless still contains abundant undescribed diversity.

    "This discovery shows us how much more there is to learn even in our
    own backyards," Pyron said. "The famed naturalist E.O. Wilson called
    this region 'America's Amazon,' where ivory-billed woodpeckers and red
    wolves once lived.

    We are losing biodiversity at a dramatic rate, while still discovering
    how much was originally there. Salamanders are among the most imperiled
    animals globally, and we've yet to understand their true biodiversity."
    The researchers determined that the new species of salamander, known
    as Desmognathus pascagoula, is similar to another recently discovered
    species known as Desmognathus valentinei.However, certain morphological, genetic and geographic aspects of the new species differ. The researchers sequenced the genomes from D. valentinei and D. pascagoulaspecimens,
    revealing genetic variations in 881 different genes. They also compared
    the body structure of D.

    pascagoula with D. valentineiand Desmognathus conanti,another species
    that occurs in the area, using collections from the Smithsonian's
    National Museum of Natural History. They found subtle but significant differences: D.

    pascagoulahas a longer, more slender body and a narrower head and
    nostrils.

    "Many of these dusky salamanders are cryptic, meaning they can't
    easily be told apart with the naked eye, which is one reason they went undiscovered for so long," Pyron said. "Only with genome sequencing can
    we see how different they really are. Then, precise measurements of
    preserved specimens reveal tiny differences in things like the width
    of the head, which are otherwise imperceptible." According to the
    researchers, additional work will be needed to provide insight both
    into the biology of D. pascagoula, as well as its former and current geographical extent. Pyron encourages other researchers in the field or
    citizen scientists searching for the species to focus on images of the
    lateral surfaces of the body and head, such that "portholes," postocular stripes, and snouts are clearly visible. Future research may also reveal
    the presence of other undescribed species of Desmognathus in the Coastal
    Plain of the southeastern U.S.

    The National Science Foundation (DEB-1655737, DEB-1656111 and DGE-0947944) supported this research.


    ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by George_Washington_University. Note:
    Content may be edited for style and length.


    ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. R. Alexander Pyron, Kyle A. O'connell, Jennifer Y. Lamb, David
    A. Beamer.

    A new, narrowly endemic species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander
    (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Gulf Coastal Plain
    of Mississippi and Alabama. Zootaxa, 2022; 5133 (1): 53 DOI:
    10.11646/zootaxa.5133.1.3 ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220503102856.htm

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