Gyrinophilus
Encyclopedia
Gyrinophilus, commonly referred to as Spring salamanders, is a genus of salamander
s in the Plethodontidae family, endemic to the Appalachian mountains
of the eastern USA and Canada
. Their habitat is under rocks in cold, clear springs and streams in forested areas.
Salamander
Salamander is a common name of approximately 500 species of amphibians. They are typically characterized by a superficially lizard-like appearance, with their slender bodies, short noses, and long tails. All known fossils and extinct species fall under the order Caudata, while sometimes the extant...
s in the Plethodontidae family, endemic to the Appalachian mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
of the eastern USA and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Their habitat is under rocks in cold, clear springs and streams in forested areas.
Species
This genus consists of the following four species:| Binomial Name and Author | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Gyrinophilus gulolineatus |
Berry Cave Salamander |
| Gyrinophilus palleucus |
Tennessee Cave Salamander |
| Gyrinophilus porphyriticus |
Spring Salamander |
| Gyrinophilus subterraneus |
West Virginia Spring Salamander |