Tennessee Cave Salamander
VU

Tennessee Cave Salamander

Gyrinophilus palleucus

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_cave_salamander

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Tennessee Cave Salamander faces significant threats from groundwater contamination and cave habitat degradation throughout its limited range in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. Agricultural runoff, urban development, and industrial activities introduce pollutants into the karst aquifer systems that these salamanders depend on for survival. Cave disturbance from recreational caving and vandalism disrupts their sensitive underground ecosystems, while climate change may alter groundwater flow patterns and temperature regimes critical to their reproduction.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Tennessee Cave Salamander inhabits limestone caves and associated underground water systems in the southeastern United States, particularly within karst landscapes of Tennessee, northern Alabama, and northwestern Georgia. These salamanders are found in both terrestrial cave environments and underground streams, requiring cool, stable temperatures and high humidity levels typical of deep cave systems.

Other threatened species in Plethodontidae

Red-legged SalamanderVU

Red-legged Salamander

Plethodon shermani

Unknown
Bolitoglossa lozanoiVU

Bolitoglossa lozanoi

Unknown
Pigeon Mountain SalamanderVU

Pigeon Mountain Salamander

Plethodon petraeus

Unknown
Fourche Mountain SalamanderVU

Fourche Mountain Salamander

Plethodon fourchensis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Tennessee Cave Salamander classified as Vulnerable?
Tennessee Cave Salamander is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Tennessee Cave Salamander faces significant threats from groundwater contamination and cave habitat degradation throughout its limited range in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. Agricultural runoff, urban development, and industrial activities introduce pollutants into the karst aquifer systems that these salamanders depend on for survival. Cave disturbance from recreational caving and vandalism disrupts their sensitive underground ecosystems, while climate change may alter groundwater flow patterns and temperature regimes critical to their reproduction.
Where does Tennessee Cave Salamander live?
Tennessee Cave Salamander occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Tennessee Cave Salamander?
The main threats to Tennessee Cave Salamander are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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