CR

Bolitoglossa tzultacaj

Declining

Overview

Bolitoglossa tzultacaj is a lungless salamander in the family Plethodontidae endemic to Guatemala.

Bolitoglossa tzultacaj faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion in Guatemala's cloud forest regions. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while climate change poses additional risks by altering the cool, moist conditions essential for salamander survival. Mining activities and infrastructure development further threaten the remaining forest patches where this endemic species persists.

Threat summary

Habitat

This salamander inhabits montane cloud forests and pine-oak forests at elevations between 1,400-2,100 meters in the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes of Guatemala. It requires cool, humid microhabitats with abundant leaf litter and fallen logs, typically found in well-preserved forest understory environments.

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

Conservation measures underway

Resource & habitat protectionSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in PLETHODONTIDAE

Honduran Lowland Worm SalamanderVU

Honduran Lowland Worm Salamander

Oedipina quadra

Declining
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 Guatemala

EN

Arachnothryx tacanensis

Declining
EN

Baird's Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Declining
VU

Phrygiopilus acanthophallus

Stable

Frequently asked questions

Why is Bolitoglossa tzultacaj classified as Critically Endangered?
Bolitoglossa tzultacaj 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 tzultacaj faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion in Guatemala's cloud forest regions. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while climate change poses additional risks by altering the cool, moist conditions essential for salamander survival. Mining activities and infrastructure development further threaten the remaining forest patches where this endemic species persists.
Where does Bolitoglossa tzultacaj live?
Bolitoglossa tzultacaj occurs in Guatemala. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Bolitoglossa tzultacaj?
The main threats to Bolitoglossa tzultacaj are 2.1, 5.1, 5.1.1, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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