Pseudoeurycea saltator
| Pseudoeurycea saltator | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Pseudoeurycea saltator | ||||||||||||
| Lynch & Wake , 1989 |
Pseudoeurycea saltator is a species of salamander from the genus Mexico salamander . It isendemic tothe Mexican state of Oaxaca . The kind of epithet saltator refers to the property of this salamander to jump away when in danger.
features
With a head-trunk length of 45 to 48 mm, Pseudoeurycea saltator is one of the smallest members of the genus Pseudoeurycea . The tail length is 36.4 mm. The upper side is solid dark gray with a lighter dorsal median stripe. At the tip of the tail, along the dorsal line, a conspicuous, characteristic white or cream-colored pigmentation can be seen. The belly and chin are light gray. The underside of the tail is darker. The skeleton of Pseudoeurycea saltator has a cervical vertebra, 14 trunk vertebrae (including 13 rib vertebrae), a sacral vertebra, two vertebrae between the sacrum and the base of the tail, and 31 tail vertebrae.
distribution
Pseudoeurycea saltator occurs on the northern slopes of the Sierra de Juárez above the Vista Hermosa region and in the southern Valle Nacional in the Mexican state of Oaxaca .
Habitat and way of life
Pseudoeurycea saltator inhabits cloud forests at altitudes between 1,500 and 2,000. It is often found eight meters above the ground on bromeliads that grow epiphytically , but can also sometimes be found on the ground under wooden blocks or under bark. Degraded forests are avoided. This species is independent of water bodies, as it does not go through an aquatic tadpole stage, but a direct development of the eggs takes place. No more is known about his way of life.
status
The IUCN classifies Pseudoeurycea saltator in the category “ critically endangered ” . This species lives in forest fragments that are not under protection. The greatest threat comes from arable farming, pasture farming and clearing.
literature
- James F. Lynch & David B. Wake: Two New Species of Pseudoeurycea (Amphibia: Caudata) from Oaxaca, Mexico . In Contributions in Science: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 1989. No. 411: pp. 11-22. Online (PDF; 2.36 MB)
- Simon Stuart, Michael Hoffmann, Janice Chanson, Neil Cox, Richard Berridge, Pavithra Ramani & Bruce Young: Threatened Amphibians of the World . Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. 2008. ISBN 9788496553415