{{Short description|Species of amphibian}} {{Speciesbox | image = Valley and Ridge Salamander (Plethodon hoffmani).jpg | image_caption = From Rockbridge County, Virginia | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 14 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group |date=2014 |title=''Plethodon hoffmani'' |volume=2014 |article-number=e.T59341A56363258 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T59341A56363258.en |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref> | taxon = Plethodon hoffmani | authority = Highton, 1972 }}
The '''valley and ridge salamander''' ('''''Plethodon hoffmani''''') is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae endemic to the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States.
==Etymology== The species is named after biologist Richard Hoffman of Virginia, who collected the holotype specimen in 1954.<ref>{{cite book| first1=Bo|last1= Beolens|first2= Michael|last2= Watkins|first3= Michael|last3= Grayson|title=The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians|date=2013|publisher=Pelagic Publishing|location=Exeter|isbn=978-1-907807-44-2|page=96|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QJY3BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA96}}</ref>
==Description== The valley and ridge salamander is a terrestrial salamander which a total length of {{convert|80|to|137|mm|in}}. This species is slender with short legs, a long tail, and 21 costal grooves. The dorsum is dark brown to blackish with scattered whitish or brassy flecks and the venter is dark with mottling, especially on the chin.<ref>{{cite web|title=Virginia Herpetological Society|url=http://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/|last=Josey|first=Marcus|date=2020-05-08|website=www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com|access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref>
==Distribution== The natural habitat of the valley and ridge salamander is hardwood forests of the Valley and Ridge province of the Appalachian Mountains, up to {{convert|1400|m|ft|abbr=on}} in elevation. This species can be found in the Appalachians from the Susquehanna River Valley in central Pennsylvania, through western Maryland and eastern West Virginia, south to the New River in southwestern Virginia.<ref name="iucn status 14 November 2021" />
==Ecology== The species occurs in terrestrial valley and ridge physiography, generally in mature hardwood forests with well-drained soils. It lays eggs in moist cavities, where they develop directly without a larval stage.<ref name="iucn status 14 November 2021" /> Individuals can be found under logs and rocks and tolerate cool weather well. In wet weather, they forage in leaf litter and as the surface dries, retreat to damp covered areas.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Virginia Herpetological Society|url=http://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/|website=www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> They tend to be found on slightly drier slopes than their close relative, the red-backed salamander.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Plethodon hoffmani|url=https://www.marshall.edu/herp/Old/hoffmani.htm|website=www.marshall.edu|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2511231}}
Category:Plethodon Category:Ecology of the Appalachian Mountains Salamander, Valley and Ridge Category:Fauna of the Northeastern United States Category:Fauna of the Southeastern United States Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Category:Amphibians described in 1971