Arboreal Thorius
Thorius arboreus
Photo: Photo: (c) 2010 Sean Michael Rovito, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
Overview
Thorius arboreus, commonly known as the arboreal minute salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to Sierra Juárez, Oaxaca, Mexico. The specific name arboreus, derives from the Latin word arbor, meaning tree, referring to the arboreal habitat of this species.
The Arboreal Thorius faces severe pressure from the clearance and degradation of Oaxaca's montane cloud forest for agriculture, livestock grazing, and logging, which directly destroys the moist microhabitats such as bromeliads and leaf litter it depends on. Because the species has an extremely restricted range, even small-scale habitat disturbance can affect a disproportionately large share of the total population. Climate-driven shifts in cloud forest moisture and temperature regimes further threaten the specialized humid conditions required by this lungless salamander, which relies entirely on cutaneous respiration.
Habitat
This species inhabits the canopy layer of pristine cloud forests in Mexico's mountains, specifically requiring moss-covered branches and dense epiphytic vegetation that maintain constant moisture levels. The specialized arboreal microhabitat exists only within a narrow elevational band where persistent cloud cover creates the humid conditions essential for this lungless salamander's survival.
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in PLETHODONTIDAE
Threatened in Mexico
Frequently asked questions
Why is Arboreal Thorius classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Arboreal Thorius live?
What are the main threats to Arboreal Thorius?
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