of flies, butterflies and moths. Status The population of black mountain salamanders seems to be stable or in slight decline although detailed studies have not been performed. The areas in which it occurs are not heavily populated and its habitat is not under threat. Road building and strip mining have caused an increase in silting in some areas and in West Virginia the salamander is probably now rare. References Desmognathus Amphibians of the United States Ecology of the Appalachian Mountains Endemic fauna of Kentucky Endemic fauna of Tennessee Endemic fauna of Virginia Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Amphibians described in 1950