CR

Bolitoglossa synoria

Declining

Overview

The Cerro Pital salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is a medium-sized salamander for its genus, growing to a snout–vent length of 37.4–52.0 mm (1.47–2.05 in). They have dark grayish-brown uppersides and pale brown undersides with whitish spots.

It is found around the mountain of Cerro El Pital on the Honduras-El Salvador border. It inhabits cloud forests at elevations of 2,150 to 2,750 m. It is classified as being critically endangered by the IUCN due to its small range and ongoing habitat degradation.

Bolitoglossa synoria faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its extremely limited range in Costa Rica's montane forests. The species' restriction to high-elevation cloud forest habitats makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change, as warming temperatures force suitable conditions upslope beyond available habitat. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment the remaining forest patches essential for this salamander's survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This salamander inhabits montane cloud forests at elevations between 1,400-2,100 meters in Costa Rica's Cordillera de Talamanca. It requires the cool, humid microclimate of primary forest with abundant moss, leaf litter, and rotting logs that characterize these high-elevation ecosystems.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist lowland· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionHabitat & natural process restorationSpecies recoveryAwareness & communicationsCompliance and enforcement

Other threatened species in PLETHODONTIDAE

Honduran Lowland Worm SalamanderVU

Honduran Lowland Worm Salamander

Oedipina quadra

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Kings River Slender SalamanderEN

Kings River Slender Salamander

Batrachoseps regius

Unknown
Conant's Mushroomtongue SalamanderVU

Conant's Mushroomtongue Salamander

Bolitoglossa conanti

Declining
VU

Pygmy Web-footed Salamander

Bolitoglossa pygmaea

Stable

Threatened in El Salvador

EN

Baird's Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Declining
Humped BladderwortCR

Humped Bladderwort

Utricularia gibba

Unknown
EN

Symplocos culminicola

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Bolitoglossa synoria classified as Critically Endangered?
Bolitoglossa synoria 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. Bolitoglossa synoria faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its extremely limited range in Costa Rica's montane forests. The species' restriction to high-elevation cloud forest habitats makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change, as warming temperatures force suitable conditions upslope beyond available habitat. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment the remaining forest patches essential for this salamander's survival.
Where does Bolitoglossa synoria live?
Bolitoglossa synoria occurs in El Salvador, and Honduras. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Bolitoglossa synoria?
The main threats to Bolitoglossa synoria are 11.1, 2.1, 4.1, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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