CR

Brown False Brook Salamander

Pseudoeurycea brunnata

Declining

Overview

Pseudoeurycea brunnata is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It was formerly only found in a few disjunct populations in Guatemala and southern Mexico. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is considered a critically endangered species because population numbers have declined by more than 80% over the last 10 years.

Pseudoeurycea brunnata faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted montane range. Deforestation for coffee plantations and cattle grazing has fragmented the cloud forest ecosystems this salamander depends upon. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the moisture regimes essential for this species' survival, as rising temperatures push suitable habitat to higher elevations where less area is available.

Threat summary

Habitat

This salamander inhabits cloud forests and pine-oak forests at elevations between 2,400-3,100 meters in the mountains of central Mexico. It requires cool, moist microhabitats with abundant leaf litter and fallen logs, typically found in well-preserved forest understory environments.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area 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 Brown False Brook Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
Brown False Brook 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. Pseudoeurycea brunnata faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted montane range. Deforestation for coffee plantations and cattle grazing has fragmented the cloud forest ecosystems this salamander depends upon. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the moisture regimes essential for this species' survival, as rising temperatures push suitable habitat to higher elevations where less area is available.
Where does Brown False Brook Salamander live?
Brown False Brook Salamander occurs in Guatemala, and Mexico. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Brown False Brook Salamander?
The main threats to Brown False Brook Salamander are 11.1, 2.1, 2.3, and 5.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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