3.13.2 Amphibians
The Herp Taxa Team evaluated two recently described amphibian species, Hickory Nut Gorge Green Salamander ( Aneides caryaensis ) and Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog ( Rana kauffeldi ), for consideration of conservation need, knowledge gap, and management need/concern priorities. The evaluation resulted in the addition of both species to the SGCN priority list. The evaluation also resulted in the addition of Hickory Nut Gorge Green Salamander to the Knowledge Gap and Management Needs/Concerns priority lists. Minor revisions have also been made to incorporate state or federal listing status changes. Scientific naming convention updates include the use of Lithobates [= Rana] in accordance with Crother (2017) and common usage accepted by species experts. All Taxa Team reevaluation results and changes to the priority species lists are provided in a table in Appendix GA1-1. Genetic research on Green Salamander ( A. aneides ) resulted in the Hickory Nut Gorge Green Salamander being split from the Genus into a newly described endemic species (Patton et al. 2019). The new species is proposed for listing as a state endangered species and considered a federal species of concern. Hickory Nut Gorge Green Salamander has a highly restricted range within the Hickory Nut Gorge geographic region in four western North Carolina counties (Buncombe, Henderson, Polk, and Rutherford) in North Carolina. A genetic study of leopard frogs was conducted for species found in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut (Newman et al. 2012). The study resulted in identification of a previously undescribed cryptic leopard frog species, Rana sp. nov, which was believed to have a small and restricted geographic range. Further work by Feinberg et al. (2014) was completed to name, diagnose, and describe the species as Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog. The known range was defined and expanded to include North Carolina (Schlesinger et al. 2018). In May 2019, the USFWS announced that federal listing is warranted for the Neuse River Waterdog and has proposed listing it as Threatened with a rule issued under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act (USFWS 2019a). The proposed listing includes designation of Critical Habitat that covers approximately 738 river miles in 16 USFWS management units in North Carolina. In addition to this federal listing change, the North Carolina legislature approved state listing recommendations for six amphibian species in October 2017 (NCAC 2017). Table 3A1-1 lists changes to SGCN status based on the Herp Taxa Team reevaluation. The list provides federal/state listing status as well as Regional SGCN status designated by SEAFWA. Red text is used to indicate changes made in this update. A complete updated list of all SGCN is provided in Appendix PA1.
3A1- 2
2020 Addendum NC Wildlife Action Plan
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