NATURAL HISTORY · CATALOGUE RECORD
Kiamichi Slimy Salamander
Plethodon kiamichi Highton in Highton, Maha & Maxson, 1989
Source-backed taxonomic record
Accepted species in Catalogue of Life’s 11 September 2026 base release. This preserves the source classification and available supporting data; it is not a completed species monograph.
Open encyclopedia reference
The Kiamichi slimy salamander (Plethodon kiamichi) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae endemic to the United States, has a natural habitat of temperate forests, and is found over a small range. This nocturnal species is mainly threatened by habitat loss and was first described by Highton in 1989. It is rated as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Wikipedia contributors, Kiamichi slimy salamander; see linked history · CC BY-SA 4.0 . Plain-text lead excerpt, at most 180 words; no infobox or later sections Retrieved 2026-10-05T11:26:43.322479+00:00. This reference remains separate from the taxonomic record.
Identity & source status
- Scientific name
- Plethodon kiamichi Highton in Highton, Maha & Maxson, 1989
- Name authority
- Highton in Highton, Maha & Maxson, 1989
- Common name
- Kiamichi Slimy Salamander
- Rank
- species
- Accepted status
- accepted
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Amphibia
- Order
- Caudata
- Family
- Plethodontidae
- Genus
- Plethodon
- Extinction status
- Recorded extant
Classification family tree
Nested taxonomic groups from the source. This is not a direct-ancestor chain, a dated evolutionary tree or a phylogenetic reconstruction.
- domainEukaryota (Chatton, 1925) Whittaker & Margulis, 1978
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumChordata
- subphylumVertebrata
- infraphylumGnathostomata
- parvphylumOsteichthyes
- megaclassTetrapoda
- classAmphibia
- orderCaudata
- familyPlethodontidae Gray, 1850
- subfamilyPlethodontinae Gray, 1850
- genusPlethodon Tschudi, 1838
- speciesPlethodon kiamichi Highton in Highton, Maha & Maxson, 1989
Close classified relatives
These entries share the source’s genus, Plethodon. They are not necessarily the closest relatives established by molecular evidence.
| Species | Classification | Source status |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Gray-cheeked SalamanderPlethodon montanus Highton & Peabody, 2000 | PlethodontidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Shenandoah Mountain SalamanderPlethodon virginia Highton, 1999 | PlethodontidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Dunn's SalamanderPlethodon dunni Bishop, 1934 | PlethodontidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Plethodon jacksoni Newman, 1954 | PlethodontidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Big Levels SalamanderPlethodon sherando Highton, 2004 | PlethodontidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Cheat Mountain SalamanderPlethodon nettingi Green, 1938 | PlethodontidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Webster's SalamanderPlethodon websteri Highton, 1979 | PlethodontidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Mississippi Slimy SalamanderPlethodon mississippi Highton in Highton, Maha & Maxson, 1989 | PlethodontidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Southern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon serratus Grobman, 1944 | PlethodontidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Northern Slimy SalamanderPlethodon glutinosus (Green, 1818) | PlethodontidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Siskiyou Mountains SalamanderPlethodon stormi Highton & Brame, 1965 | PlethodontidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Wehrle's SalamanderPlethodon wehrlei Fowler & Dunn, 1917 | PlethodontidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
Documented distribution
Source distribution statements, not a complete range map. A listed locality is not necessarily a place of origin.
Source literature & publication evidence
References attached to this source record, including nomenclatural citations where supplied. This is a selected bibliography; abbreviated citations remain in the source’s form.
- Highton, Maha & Maxson, 1989 Source fields: Taxon.tsv dwc:namePublishedIn, Taxon.tsv dcterms:references
Origins, evidence & remaining research
Name authority and publication references document nomenclature where the source supplies it. They do not establish evolutionary origins or the earliest fossil occurrence.
Specimen-level evidence, morphology, ecological research, phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive bibliography and a located literary passage have not yet been compiled for this record. A suitable sourced image remains to be added.
Dataset citation & attribution
This exact taxon in ChecklistBank · Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11
Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11; dataset 316321; doi:10.48580/dgz5n. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Retrieved 5 October 2026.
Stable key: col:6W288. Classification follows source parent identifiers. English common names may vary by region.