Hundreds of millions of years ago,
evidence suggests that at one point,
South Carolina was predominately under water.
Past the young Appalachian Mountains,
endless swamplands dominated the southeast
and an explosion of biodiversity was underway.
This was the age of the amphibian.
Early amphibians were some of the first
vertebrates to “take the leap” from water onto land.
Today, their descendants come in a variety
of species and live in some of the most remote
and pristine environments on the planet.
One of South Carolina’s rarest amphibians,
has an isolated distribution and is one
of the wildest animals around.
♪ intro music ♪
♪
Amphibians have one of the most unique
lifecycles in the animal kingdom.
Unlike reptiles and birds,
amphibians lay soft, jelly-like eggs
typically in or around a water source.
Once hatched, young amphibians like frogs
and salamanders go through stages called
metamorphosis losing their tails
and growing legs and lungs in the process.
Amphibians also have a thin permeable skin,
allowing them to absorb liquids and gases
and keep their skin moist and functional,
This ability comes with a cost, however,
because they absorb what’s around them,
pollution and habitat loss can be devastating.
Therefore, many amphibians are known as
“indicator species,” because they indicate a
healthy, clean ecosystem.
Webster’s Salamander can be found in several
small, separated locations
across the southeast.
In South Carolina, the species is restricted to
only a few areas along the Savannah River
in the lower Piedmont.
These salamanders prefer to live in mixed
hardwood forests with dense canopies that help
the forest floor remain moist and cool.
As with many terrestrial salamanders,
much remains unknown about their behavior,
but it’s believed that most of their time
in the fall and early spring is spent foraging
through leaf litter, disappearing underground
during the hot summer months.
Initially, Webster’s Salamander was so
similar to another species
that it wasn’t until 1979 that
it was discovered as a new species using
molecular data, one of the first creatures
to ever be distinguished this way.
As major predators of the forest floor,
Webster’s Salamander plays a vital role
in the ecosystem by affecting the rate
of litter decomposition and nutrient cycling.
Because of habitat loss or alteration,
Webster’s Salamander is an endangered species
in South Carolina.
Unfortunately, it is not alone.
It’s estimated that 32% of all amphibians are
considered threatened of becoming extinct;
with almost half of the species in the world
being in decline.
To help ensure the survival of these
imperiled animals, groups like the
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
have established heritage preserves and surveys
to help research and protect the species.
With these essential resources,
the hope is that in time the Webster’s Salamander
population can grow and stay wild.
♪ closing music ♪