Editing Plethodon (section)

== Taxonomy ==
''Plethodon'' is part of the family Plethodontidae (lungless salamanders) and the subfamily [[Plethodontidae|Plethodontinae]]. The genus ''Plethodon'' can be divided into two [[Subgenus|subgenera]]: the nominal subgenus ''Plethodon'', which includes up to 49 eastern species (the bulk of diversity in the genus), and the subgenus '''''Hightonia''''',<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Vieites |first1=David R. |last2=Román |first2=Sandra Nieto |last3=Wake |first3=Marvalee H. |last4=Wake |first4=David B. |date=2011 |title=A multigenic perspective on phylogenetic relationships in the largest family of salamanders, the Plethodontidae |url=https://ib.berkeley.edu/labs/wake/373_multigenic_Plethodontidae.pdf |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=59 |issue=3 |pages=623–635 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2011.03.012 |pmid=21414414 |bibcode=2011MolPE..59..623V |issn=1055-7903}}</ref> which includes 9 species native to the western part of North America.

The eastern ''Plethodon'' subgenus can be further categorized into at least three major [[Species group|species groups]] which genetic analyses confirm to be [[Clade|clades]]:<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Highton |first=R |date=1995 |title=SPECIATION IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICAN SALAMANDERS OF THE GENUS ''PLETHODON'' |url=https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev.es.26.110195.003051 |journal=Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics |language=en |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages=579–600 |doi=10.1146/annurev.es.26.110195.003051 |issn=0066-4162|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Kozak |first1=Kenneth H |last2=Weisrock |first2=David W |last3=Larson |first3=Allan |date=2006-03-07 |title=Rapid lineage accumulation in a non-adaptive radiation: phylogenetic analysis of diversification rates in eastern North American woodland salamanders (Plethodontidae: Plethodon ) |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |language=en |volume=273 |issue=1586 |pages=539–546 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2005.3326 |issn=0962-8452 |pmc=1560065 |pmid=16537124}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Wiens |first1=John J. |last2=Engstrom |first2=Tag N. |last3=Chippindale |first3=Paul T. |date=2006 |title=Rapid diversification, incomplete isolation, and the "speciation clock" in North American salamanders (Genus Plethodon): Testing the hybrid swarm hypothesis of rapid radiation |url=http://w.wienslab.com/Publications_files/Wiens_et_al_pleth_Evol2006.pdf |journal=Evolution |volume=60 |issue=12 |pages=2585–3103 |doi=10.1554/06-138.1 |pmid=17263119 |issn=0014-3820}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last1=Kozak |first1=Kenneth H. |last2=Mendyk |first2=Robert W. |last3=Wiens |first3=John J. |date=2009 |title=Can Parallel Diversification Occur in Sympatry? Repeated Patterns of Body-Size Evolution in Coexisting Clades of North American Salamanders |url=http://w.wienslab.com/Publications_files/Kozak_et_al_2009.pdf |journal=Evolution |language=en |volume=63 |issue=7 |pages=1769–1784 |doi=10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00680.x|pmid=19473404 |s2cid=3914496 }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last1=Alexander Pyron |first1=R. |last2=Wiens |first2=John J. |date=2011 |title=A large-scale phylogeny of Amphibia including over 2800 species, and a revised classification of extant frogs, salamanders, and caecilians |url=http://w.wienslab.com/Publications_files/Pyron_Wiens_MPE_2011.pdf |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=61 |issue=2 |pages=543–583 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2011.06.012 |pmid=21723399 |bibcode=2011MolPE..61..543A |issn=1055-7903}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last1=Fisher-Reid |first1=M. Caitlin |last2=Wiens |first2=John J. |date=2011-10-13 |title=What are the consequences of combining nuclear and mitochondrial data for phylogenetic analysis? Lessons from Plethodon salamanders and 13 other vertebrate clades |url=http://wienslab.com/Publications_files/Fisher_Reid_Wiens_BMC_2011.pdf |journal=BMC Evolutionary Biology |language=en |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=300 |doi=10.1186/1471-2148-11-300 |doi-access=free |issn=1471-2148 |pmc=3203092 |pmid=21995558|bibcode=2011BMCEE..11..300F }}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last1=Highton |first1=Richard |last2=Hastings |first2=Amy Picard |last3=Palmer |first3=Catherine |last4=Watts |first4=Richard |last5=Hass |first5=Carla A. |last6=Culver |first6=Melanie |last7=Arnold |first7=Stevan J. |date=2012 |title=Concurrent speciation in the eastern woodland salamanders (Genus Plethodon): DNA sequences of the complete albumin nuclear and partial mitochondrial 12s genes |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1055790311005318 |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |language=en |volume=63 |issue=2 |pages=278–290 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2011.12.018|pmid=22230029 |bibcode=2012MolPE..63..278H |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

* The '''''Plethodon cinereus''''' '''group''',<ref name=":0" /> which contains the ubiquitous red-backed salamander and 9 other small, slender species (''[[Plethodon electromorphus|P. electromorphus]], [[Plethodon hoffmani|P. hoffmani]], [[Plethodon hubrichti|P. hubrichti]], [[Plethodon nettingi|P. nettingi]], [[Plethodon richmondi|P. richmondi]], [[Plethodon serratus|P. serratus]], [[Plethodon shenandoah|P. shenandoah]], [[Plethodon sherando|P. sherando]],'' and ''[[Plethodon virginia|P. virginia]]'').
* The '''''Plethodon wehrlei'' group<ref name=":0" />''' is a species complex centered on [[Wehrle's salamander]] and at least 4 of its close relatives (''[[Plethodon dixi|P. dixi]]'', ''[[Plethodon jacksoni|P. jacksoni]]'', ''[[Plethodon pauleyi|P. pauleyi]]'', ''[[Plethodon punctatus|P. punctatus]]''). Some of these species were only formally distinguished from ''P. wehrlei'' as recently as 2019.<ref name="camp2019">{{Cite journal |last1=Camp |first1=Carlos D. |last2=Pierson |first2=Todd W. |last3=Wooten |first3=Jessica A. |last4=Felix |first4=Zachary I. |date=2019-05-24 |title=Re-evaluation of the Wehrle's salamander (''Plethodon wehrlei'' Fowler and Dunn) species group (Caudata: Plethodontidae) using genomic data, with the description of a new species |url=https://www.biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.4609.3.2 |journal=Zootaxa |language=en |volume=4609 |issue=3 |pages=429–448 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4609.3.2 |issn=1175-5334 |pmid=31717092 |s2cid=181533495|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* The '''''Plethodon welleri'' group'''<ref name=":0" /> includes [[Weller's salamander]] and the three species of zigzag salamander (''[[Plethodon angusticlavius|P. angusticlavius]], [[Plethodon dorsalis|P. dorsalis]], [[Plethodon ventralis|P. ventralis]]'')''.''<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" /> Many studies have argued that the ''wehrlei'' and ''welleri'' groups should be conceived of as one larger clade, the '''''Plethodon wehrlei-welleri'' group'''.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />
* The '''''Plethodon glutinosus'' group'''<ref name=":0" /> is the largest species group within ''Plethodon'', with around 30 species and several subordinate species complexes. Many species within this group (including [[Northern slimy salamander|the nominal species]]) are commonly known as "'''slimy salamanders'''", characterized by a large size, robust build and black-and-white coloration. Not all members of the ''Plethodon glutinosus'' group are labelled as slimy salamanders, and [[species delimitation]] among slimy salamanders and their close relatives is a subject of continued debate.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /> For example, some studies interpret ''Plethodon grobmani'' and ''Plethodon mississippi'' to be [[Synonym (taxonomy)|junior synonyms]] of ''Plethodon glutinosus'', based on a lack of genetic or anatomical distinctiveness.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last1=Joyce |first1=Kathlene L. |last2=Hayes |first2=Malorie M. |last3=Potter |first3=Jacqueline |last4=Guyer |first4=Craig |date=2019-11-22 |title=Phylogeography of the Slimy Salamander Complex (Plethodon: Plethodontidae) in Alabama |url=https://bioone.org/journals/copeia/volume-107/issue-4/CH-18-170/Phylogeography-of-the-Slimy-Salamander-Complex-Plethodon--Plethodontidae-in/10.1643/CH-18-170.full |journal=Copeia |volume=107 |issue=4 |pages=701 |doi=10.1643/CH-18-170 |s2cid=208942753 |issn=0045-8511}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite journal |last1=Guyer |first1=Craig |last2=Goetz |first2=Scott |last3=Folt |first3=Brian |last4=Joyce |first4=Kathlene |last5=Hayes |first5=Malorie |date=2019-11-22 |title=Variation in Head Shape and Color at the Range Boundary of Gulf Coastal Slimy Salamanders (Plethodon glutinosus Complex), USA |url=https://bioone.org/journals/copeia/volume-107/issue-4/CH-18-169/Variation-in-Head-Shape-and-Color-at-the-Range-Boundary/10.1643/CH-18-169.full |journal=Copeia |volume=107 |issue=4 |pages=694 |doi=10.1643/CH-18-169 |s2cid=208942734 |issn=0045-8511|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* One difficult-to-classify species is [[Webster's salamander]], which may lie among the ''wehrlei-welleri'' group<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> or the ''glutinosus'' group,<ref name=":6" /> or outside both groups,<ref name=":1" /> depending on the study.