Desmognathus is a genus of lungless salamanders in the family Plethodontidae known as dusky salamanders. They range throughout the eastern United States as far west as Texas, and north to southeastern Canada.
Characteristics Species of the genus Desmognathus have a unique jaw-opening mechanism where the lower jaw is stationary and the skull swings open. There are additional stalked condyles, an atlanto-mandibular ligament, along with other skeletal and musculature features that have evolved to accompany this type of jaw-opening mechanism. Additionally, they are known to exhibit maternal care by brooding over their eggs.
Species This genus includes the following 39-40 species:
Binomial Name and Author Common name Desmognathus abditus Cumberland dusky salamander Desmognathus adatsihi Cherokee mountain dusky salamander Desmognathus aeneus Seepage salamander Desmognathus amphileucus Nantahala blackbelly salamanderDesmognathus anicetus Foothills dusky salamander Desmognathus apalachicolae Apalachicola dusky salamander Desmognathus aureatus Golden shovelnose salamander Desmognathus auriculatus Holbrook's southern dusky salamander Desmognathus bairdi Piedmont dusky salamanderDesmognathus balsameus Great Balsams mountain dusky salamander Desmognathus brimleyorum Ouachita dusky salamander Desmognathus campi Savannah dusky salamander Desmognathus carolinensis Carolina mountain dusky salamander Desmognathus catahoula Catahoula spotted dusky salamanderDesmognathus cheaha Talladega seal salamander Desmognathus conanti Spotted dusky salamander Desmognathus folkertsi Dwarf blackbelly salamander Desmognathus fuscus Northern dusky salamander Desmognathus gvnigeusgwotli Cherokee blackbelly salamander Desmognathus imitator Imitator salamander Desmognathus intermedius Central shovelnose salamanderDesmognathus kanawha Kanawha blackbelly salamanderDesmognathus lycos Wolf dusky salamander Desmognathus marmoratus Shovelnose salamander Desmognathus mavrokoilius Pisgah blackbelly salamander Desmognathus monticola Seal salamander Desmognathus ochrophaeus Allegheny mountain dusky salamander Desmognathus ocoee Ocoee dusky salamander Desmognathus orestes Blue Ridge dusky salamander Desmognathus organi Northern pygmy salamander Desmognathus pascagoula Pascagoula dusky salamanderDesmognathus perlapsusTallulah dusky salamander Desmognathus planiceps Flat-headed salamander Desmognathus quadramaculatus Blackbelly salamander (defunct) Desmognathus santeetlah Santeetlah dusky salamander Desmognathus tilleyi Max Patch dusky salamander Desmognathus valentinei Valentine's southern dusky salamander Desmognathus valtos Carolina swamp dusky salamander Desmognathus welteri Black Mountain dusky salamander Desmognathus wrighti Pygmy salamander
References
External links Tree of Life: Desmognathus
Further reading Baird SF. 1850. Revision of the North American Tailed-Batrachia, with descriptions of new genera and species. J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Series 2, 1: 281–294. (Desmognathus, new genus, p. 282).