At a Glance
The Cuetzalan Salamander is a microendemic amphibian that is only found in the cloud forests of Sierra Madre Oriental in Puebla, Mexico. The brownish salamander only lives at elevations between 900 and 1,400 meters (3,000-4,600 feet) under thick canopies created by under sweetgum plants, ferns, oaks and coffee plants. They also prefer to spend time under mossy areas, in and under rotten logs and under rocks.
The Cuetzalan Salamander completely skips the larval stage of development and when eggs hatch, miniature salamanders emerge from them. It’s also a lungless salamander and breathes through its skin!
The salamander is Critically Endangered because it only lives in one very small area. In total its known range is 54 square-kilometers (33 miles). Although it is common in that area, scientists believe that the population is declining due to habitat destruction from agriculture, tourism infrastructure and urbanization, which makes the species’ long-term survival very uncertain.
At a glance
Taxa
Amphibians
Geography
Mexico
Status
Critically Endangered
Habitat
Tropical montane cloud forest
Estimated Population
Unknown
Threats
Habitat loss from agricultural expansion; urbanization; tourist development; small population size
Potential Recovery Actions
Habitat protection; population surveys; research on distribution and abundance; establishment of protected areas
