Anderson's Salamander
CR

Anderson's Salamander

Ambystoma andersoni

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderson's_salamander

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Habitat

Anderson's salamander inhabits pristine high-altitude lakes in Mexico's volcanic mountain ranges, specifically requiring cold, well-oxygenated waters with temperatures rarely exceeding 15°C and abundant aquatic vegetation. These isolated lake systems are characterized by rocky substrates, clear water with high dissolved oxygen levels, and minimal human disturbance, creating the specialized conditions necessary for this neotenic species' survival.

Wetlands (inland) - Permanent freshwater lakes· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionHabitat & natural process restorationSpecies managementSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in AMBYSTOMATIDAE

Frosted Flatwoods SalamanderEN

Frosted Flatwoods Salamander

Ambystoma cingulatum

Declining
EN

Michoacan Stream Salamander

Ambystoma ordinarium

Declining
Blunthead SalamanderCR

Blunthead Salamander

Ambystoma amblycephalum

Declining
Lake Patzcuaro SalamanderCR

Lake Patzcuaro Salamander

Ambystoma dumerilii

Declining

Threatened in Mexico

EN

Turbinicarpus horripilus

Declining
CR

Turbinicarpus mandragora

Declining
EN

Opuntia pachyrrhiza

Declining
EN

Arachnothryx tacanensis

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Anderson's Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
Anderson's Salamander is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range, per the IUCN Red List assessment recorded in the SpeciesRadar database.
Where does Anderson's Salamander live?
Anderson's Salamander occurs in Mexico. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Anderson's Salamander?
The main threats to Anderson's Salamander are 2.1, 8.1, and 9.3.4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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