Kingdom Animalia Subfamily Hemidactyliinae Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family Plethodontidae Scientific name Parvimolge townsendi Higher classification Parvimolge Order Salamander | |
Genus Parvimolge
Taylor, 1944 Similar Salamander, Chiropterotriton, Dendrotriton, Nototriton, Pseudoeurycea | ||
Parvimolge townsendi, the Townsend's dwarf salamander, is a salamander in the family Plethodontidae, the lungless salamanders. It is monotypic within the genus Parvimolge, although this may yet change as molecular data suggest that it is embedded within a paraphyletic Pseudoeurycea. Parvimolge townsendi is endemic to the Sierra Madre Oriental in central and southern Veracruz, Mexico.
Habitat and conservation
Natural habitats of Parvimolge townsendi are cloud and oak forests. They are usually found living in bromeliads or on the ground. They are somewhat adaptable and can survive in shaded coffee plantations as long as humidity levels are maintained.
Parvimolge townsendi has never been common, but it has undergone significant population declines. It has only been observed once since 1997, despite efforts to locate it. It is threatened by habitat loss, but more information on the reasons for the decline of this species is needed.