The southeastern United States houses the most diverse population of salamander species in the world. In North Carolina alone, there are 56 species of salamanders many of which live in specific, disjunct populations--including Aneides aeneus. Aneides aeneus, also known as the green salamander, is an endangered species that inhabits moist, rocky, crevices in the Appalachian mountains. Skin-associated bacteria of Aneides aeneus could be the key to saving this species from the brink of extinction.