Baja Verapaz Salamander
Cryptotriton veraepacis
Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Overview
The Baja Verapaz salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to Guatemala.
The Baja Verapaz Salamander faces severe range restriction compounded by deforestation of Guatemalan cloud forest for agriculture and fuelwood, which fragments the humid microhabitats it depends on for cutaneous respiration. Climate change poses an additional risk by reducing cloud cover and moisture in its high-elevation habitat. Chytrid fungus, a known driver of amphibian decline in Central America, represents a plausible but less-documented threat to remaining populations.
Habitat
This salamander inhabits pristine cloud forests on volcanic slopes between 2,400 and 3,200 meters elevation in Guatemala's central highlands. It requires the consistently cool, humid conditions found beneath the forest canopy, particularly in areas with thick leaf litter, fallen logs, and moss-covered rocks that maintain moisture year-round.
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in PLETHODONTIDAE
Threatened in Guatemala
Frequently asked questions
Why is Baja Verapaz Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Baja Verapaz Salamander live?
What are the main threats to Baja Verapaz Salamander?
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