Guaramacal salamander
| Bolitoglossa guaramacalensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Plethodontidae |
| Subfamily: | Hemidactyliinae |
| Genus: | Bolitoglossa |
| Species: | B. guaramacalensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Bolitoglossa guaramacalensis Schargel, García-Pérez, and Smith, 2002[2] | |
The Guaramacal salamander or holy-mountain salamander (Bolitoglossa guaramacalensis) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to the Cordillera de Mérida, Venezuela.[1][3] The Venezuelan specimen first reported as Bolitoglossa savagei likely represents this species. The species is named after its type locality, Guaramacal in the Trujillo.[2]
Description
Based on the type series consisting of two females and one male, adult males measure 48 mm (1.9 in) and females 60–69 mm (2.4–2.7 in) in snout–vent length. The tail is slightly shorter or longer than the body. The hands and feet are moderately webbed. The dorsum is heavily pigmented, with paler reddish orange or pale yellow blotches or longitudinal streaks.[2]
Habitat and conservation
The species' natural habitat are cloud forests at elevations of 1,800–2,400 m (5,900–7,900 ft) above sea level. It is a terrestrial species found on rocks,[1] or more rarely, in bromeliads.[2] It is a common species but with small range, making it susceptible stochastic threats.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 García-Pérez, J.E. & La Marca, E. (2004). "Bolitoglossa guaramacalensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2004: e.T59165A11880563. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Schargel, W. E., J. E. García-Pérez, and E. N. Smith (2002). "A new species of Bolitoglossa (Caudata: Plethodontidae) from the Cordillera de Merida, Venezuela". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 115: 534–542.
- ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Bolitoglossa guaramacalensis Schargel, García-Pérez, and Smith, 2002". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 19 March 2016.