Since publication of Atlas of Amphibians in Tennessee (Redmond, W. H. and A. F. Scott. 1996. The Center for Field Biology, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN. 94 pp.), several applicable taxonomic and nomenclatural changes and numerous reports of new county records have appeared in the literature. Comments, accompanied by cited references, on the taxonomic and nomenclatural changes, plus an updated distribution map and bibliographical information on new county records as they pertain to E. aquatica follow:

Using a multiple-analysis approach, Kozak et al. (2006) studied the phylogenetic variation of the Eurycea bislineata species complex and proposed that Eurycea aquatica is a legitimate taxon as described by Rose & Bush (1963).  Further evidence to support this proposal was provided by Timpe et al. (2009) who demonstrated that E. aquatica from isolated springs in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee (Bradley County) form a well-supported monophyletic group that is nested among E. cirrigera, E. wilderae, and E. junaluska.

Literature Cited:

Kozak, K. H., R. A. Blaine and A. Larson.  2006.  Gene lineages and eastern North American palaeodrainage basins: Phylogeography and speciation in salamanders of the Eurycea bislineata species complex. Molecular Ecology 15:191-207.

Rose, F. L. and F. M. Bush.  1963.  A new species of Eurycea (Amphibia: Caudata) from the southeastern United States. Tulane Studies in Zoology 10:121-128.

Literature Containing New County Records

Bradley County

Timpe, E. K., S. P. Graham and R. M. Bonett.  2009.  Phylogeography of the Brownback Salamander reveals patterns of local endemism in Southern Appalachian springs. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 52: 368-376.