Cloud Forest Salamander
CR

Cloud Forest Salamander

Bolitoglossa carri

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_forest_salamander

Overview

The cloud forest salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to Honduras. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Bolitoglossa carri 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 and secondary cloud forest with abundant moss, leaf litter, and rotting logs that provide essential moisture and breeding sites.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Species 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 Honduras

EN

Baird's Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Declining
EN

Perymenium hondurense

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Cloud Forest Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
Cloud Forest 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. Bolitoglossa carri 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 Cloud Forest Salamander live?
Cloud Forest Salamander occurs in Honduras. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Cloud Forest Salamander?
The main threats to Cloud Forest Salamander are 1.1, 11.1, 2.1, and 4.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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