Rare: known in AR only from the Rich, Black Fork, and Kiamichi mountain ranges, mostly in Polk County. Color black with lichen-like flecks and a wash of maroon. Chin pale. Chest dark. 
Species of Greatest Conservation Need
Arkansas Herpetological Atlas 2019
This species is represented by 1,628 records from 41 sources: 1,566 museum (
), 0 literature (
), 0 research (
), and 57 observation (
), with 5 additional Trauth et al. (2004) locality points remaining unsourced (
). It has been museum vouchered for 2 of 75 counties (). Years of collection range from 1933 to present.
This species inhabits the Rich, Black Fork, and Kiamichi mountain subranges within the greater Ouachita Mountains. Shepard and Burbrink (2008) identified seven well-supported lineages structured across six mountain subranges, with three occurring in Arkansas (inset): Round Mountain (■), Rich Mountain (■), and Black Fork Mountain (■). However, these have not been proposed for species status. Trauth et al. (2004) did not recognize this species as occurring on Round Mountain, western Polk County, where specimens lack the typical chestnut dorsum, but can be distinguished from syntopic P. kiamichi in having a light-colored throat. Museum specimens of both species from this area may warrant reexamination to confirm identifications. Trauth et al. (2004) plotted a few localities from lower elevations on the south side of Rich Mountain which remain unsourced. Additional Trauth et al. (2004) localities at Acorn and Mena are likely due to generalized locality descriptions for historic records. This species is known to hybridize with P. fourchensis (■) on the western end of Fourche Mountain (Shepard et al., 2011).
