Kingdom Animalia Order Caudata Genus Ambystoma Higher classification Mole salamander | Phylum Chordata Family Ambystomatidae Scientific name Ambystoma rosaceum Rank Species | |
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Similar Mole salamander, Salamander, Amphibians, Granular salamander, Blunt‑headed salamander | ||
The Tarahumara salamander (Ambystoma rosaceum) is a freshwater species of mole salamander in the Ambystomatidae family, endemic to Mexico. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, rivers, freshwater marshes, pastureland, and ponds.
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The Tarhumara salamander may actually be two different species separated by the Sierra Madre Occidentental in northwestern Mexico. It's classified as Least Concern, but habitat loss, introduced predatory fish, and increasing agriculture in the area pose threats to its survival. The Government of Mexico classifies it as Pr, meaning Special Protection.
Description
The Tarhumara salamander is a medium-sized salamander with a maximum snout to vent length of about 80 mm (3.1 in) and a tail of about 73 mm (2.9 in). Females have longer bodies and shorter tails than males. Newly-hatched larvae are a uniform brownish-black, older larvae have rows of yellow and black mottling and most terrestrial adults have large spots or streaks of yellow on a dark background, though some are plain. Some individuals are paedomorphic and do not pass through metamorphosis to the terrestrial adult state but remain as aquatic, gilled paedomorphs. This happens most often in montane streams and ponds.
Distribution and habitat
The Tarhumara salamander is endemic to Mexico where it occurs in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range at elevations of 1,675 to 3,100 metres (5,495 to 10,171 ft) above sea level. It is an adaptable species and generally occurs in pine and pine-oak forest with small, slow moving streams, or near springs and ponds. It is also found in thornscrub and tropical deciduous forest in some areas, and on farms and ranches where it sometimes breeds in cattle ponds.
Status
This salamander is listed as being of "Least Concern" by the IUCN as its population seems stable. It has a wide distribution and presumed large population, and does not appear to be declining fast enough to qualify to be listed in a more threatened category.