Chiropterotriton chiropterus
Photo: (c) phrafa96, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by phrafa96
Overview
The common splayfoot salamander or common flat-footed salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to the Huatusco–Xalapa region of Veracruz, Mexico. Several unnamed species might exist under this name.
Chiropterotriton chiropterus faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited montane forest range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes, while deforestation for coffee plantations and cattle ranching continues to fragment its remaining habitat. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the cool, humid conditions essential for this salamander's survival.
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, humid microhabitats with abundant leaf litter and fallen logs, typically found in well-preserved montane forest ecosystems.
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in PLETHODONTIDAE
Threatened in Mexico
Frequently asked questions
Why is Chiropterotriton chiropterus classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Chiropterotriton chiropterus live?
What are the main threats to Chiropterotriton chiropterus?
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