Morphological And Genetic Variation Between Plethodon Longicrus And Plethodon Yonahlossee

ln recent years, the systematics of plethodontid salamanders has been revised through the use of molecular markers and multivariate statistics to reveal a more complex array of evolutionary relationships and a greater degree of biodiversity, especially in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. One question that remains is the taxonomic status of Plethodon longicrus, the Crevice Salamander. Although being described as a distinct species by Adler and Dennis in 1962, it is now considered a geographical variant of P. yonahlossee. The present study included both a phylogenetic analysis and a morphological analysis to help resolve this issue.