Tarahumara salamander

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Tarahumara salamander
Ambystoma rosaceum.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Ambystomatidae
Genus: Ambystoma
Species:
A. rosaceum
Binomial name
Ambystoma rosaceum
Taylor, 1941

The Tarahumara salamander (Ambystoma rosaceum) is a freshwater species of mole salamander in the family Ambystomatidae, endemic to Mexico. Its natural habitats are temperate forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, rivers, freshwater marshes, pastureland, and ponds.

Contents

The Tarahumara salamander may actually be two different species separated by the Sierra Madre Occidental in northwestern Mexico. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, 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. [2]

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 can also be found in corners of Arizona, in the Huachuca Mountains in the Coronado National Forest, where it is threatened by a border barrier. [3] 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. [2]

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. [1]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sierra Madre Oriental</span> Mountain range in Mexico

The Sierra Madre Oriental is a mountain range in northeastern Mexico. The Sierra Madre Oriental is part of the American Cordillera, a chain of mountain ranges (cordillera) that consists of an almost continuous sequence of mountain ranges that form the western "backbone" of North America, Central America, South America, and Antarctica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madrean pine–oak woodlands</span>

The Madrean pine–oak woodlands are subtropical woodlands found in the mountains of Mexico and the southwestern United States. They are a biogeographic region of the tropical and subtropical coniferous forests and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biomes, located in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madrean Sky Islands</span> Peak-isolated biomes in Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico

The Madrean Sky Islands are enclaves of Madrean pine–oak woodlands, found at higher elevations in a complex of small mountain ranges in southern and southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northwestern Mexico. The sky islands are surrounded at lower elevations by the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. The northern west–east perimeter of the sky island region merges into the higher elevation eastern Mogollon Rim and the White Mountains of eastern Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mabee's salamander</span> Species of amphibian

Mabee's salamander is a species of mole salamander found in tupelo and cypress bottoms in pinewoods, open fields, and lowland deciduous forests, pine savannahs, low wet woods, and swamps. It usually burrows near breeding ponds. Eggs are attached to submerged plant material or bottom debris of acidic, fishless ponds in or near pine stands. In Virginia, it breeds in fish-free vernal pond in a large clear-cut area and in ephemeral sinkhole ponds up to 1.5 m deep, within bottomland hardwood forest mixed with pine. Larvae develop in the ponds. Distances moved into terrestrial habitat are unknown, but probably are greater than 150 metres (490 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sierra Madre Occidental pine–oak forests</span> Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion of Mexico and the United States

The Sierra Madre Occidental pine–oak forests are a Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion of the Sierra Madre Occidental range from the southwest USA region to the western part of Mexico. They are home to a large number of endemic plants and important habitat for wildlife.

The granular salamander or ajolote is a species of mole salamander in the family Ambystomatidae. It is found only in Mexico. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, and ponds. It is threatened by habitat loss and overcropping along with the scaling of their skins.

<i>Ambystoma rivulare</i> Species of amphibian

Ambystoma rivulare is a species of mole salamander in the family Ambystomatidae. Typically gains a lot of population distribution in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt around central Mexico City. Found in various small or medium-sized ponds and lakes that have large and wide range of food options, all within a distance of at least 2 km. It is endemic to Mexico. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss. The larvae, who continue to prey on the same organisms as they grow, prey mainly on ostracods as well as some gastropods and assorted other prey with limited diversity. Ambystoma rivulare continue to live in the river they hatch in post-metamorphosis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ridged tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

The ridged tree frog is a species of frog in the family Hylidae endemic to Mexico. Its natural habitats include mountainous pine-fir forests in high elevations. In lower elevations it is known to inhabit moderate and low-lying streams and ponds where it is believed to breed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walker's tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

Walker's tree frog is a species of frog in the family Hylidae found in Guatemala and Mexico. Its natural habitats are highlands of pine-oak forests and pine-fir forests. It is known to occur in Chiapas Mexico and in parts of Guatemala including the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes mountain range in the west, the plateaus of central Guatemala, and in southeastern Guatemala. However, it is believed that its range is greater than what is currently known. It breeds in temporary ponds, and is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Craugastor tarahumaraensis</i> Species of frog

Craugastor tarahumaraensis is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to Mexico and known from the Sierra Madre Occidental between the eastern Sonora and western Chihuahua in the north and Jalisco in the south. Its common name is Tarahumara barking frog. The type locality is Mojárachic, in the Tarahumara Mountains, Chihuahua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacramento Mountain salamander</span> Species of amphibian

The Sacramento Mountain salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to mountainous regions of New Mexico in the United States. Its natural habitat is temperate forests where it is threatened by habitat loss.

The Guerreran climbing salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to Mexico. It is found on the Pacific slope of the Sierra Madre del Sur in the basins of the Atoyac and Tecpan rivers, between 765 and 2,800 meters elevation. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 1,122 km2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oaxacan climbing salamander</span> Species of amphibian

The Oaxacan climbing salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to Mexico. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and plantations . It is threatened by habitat loss.

The gristle-headed splayfoot salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to the Sierra Madre Oriental of east-central Mexico.

Pseudoeurycea conanti is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to Oaxaca, Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt pine–oak forests</span> Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests ecoregion in Mexico

The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt pine–oak forests is a subtropical coniferous forest ecoregion of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt of central Mexico.

The Durango salamander, or pine wood salamander, is a mole salamander. It is endemic to Mexico, where it is found in Durango and Chihuahua states. Its habitats include ponds, shallow lakes, and pine-oak forests.

Magnolia tarahumara is a species of flowering plant in the family Magnoliaceae. It is endemic to Mexico, where it occurs in scattered locations in the Sierra Madre Occidental of southeastern Sonora, southwestern Chihuahua, Sinaloa, and northwestern Durango.

Campo Verde Flora and Fauna Protection Area is a protected area in northern Mexico. It covers an area of 1080.67 km2 in northwestern Chihuahua, on the border with Sinaloa. It is at the eastern edge of the Sierra Madre Occidental, where it meets the Chihuahuan Desert.

References

  1. 1 2 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2015). "Ambystoma rosaceum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T59068A53974550. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T59068A53974550.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Kellie Whittaker (2010-12-20). "Ambystoma rosaceum". AmphibiaWeb. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
  3. Main, Douglas (2022-12-07). "A rogue barrier threatens wildlife on Arizona border". National Geographic. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-09.