Crescent-nostriled Thorius
CR

Crescent-nostriled Thorius

Thorius lunaris

Declining

Photo: Photo: (c) Maximiliano Monroy Sánchez, all rights reserved, uploaded by Maximiliano Monroy Sánchez

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Thorius lunaris faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and logging activities in its montane cloud forest habitat. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes, while climate change poses additional risks by altering the specific temperature and humidity conditions required for its survival. Fungal diseases, including chytrid fungus, represent an emerging threat to this and other Central American salamander species.

Threat summary

Habitat

Thorius lunaris inhabits montane cloud forests at elevations between 1,800-2,400 meters in the Sierra Madre Oriental of Mexico. The species requires the specific microclimate conditions of these high-altitude forests, including consistent moisture, cool temperatures, and dense vegetation cover.

Forest· majorForest - Temperate· major

Conservation measures underway

Resource & habitat protectionHabitat & natural process restorationSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in PLETHODONTIDAE

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Kings River Slender SalamanderEN

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Pygmy Web-footed Salamander

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Threatened in Mexico

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Turbinicarpus horripilus

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CR

Turbinicarpus mandragora

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Opuntia pachyrrhiza

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Arachnothryx tacanensis

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Crescent-nostriled Thorius classified as Critically Endangered?
Crescent-nostriled Thorius 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. Thorius lunaris faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and logging activities in its montane cloud forest habitat. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes, while climate change poses additional risks by altering the specific temperature and humidity conditions required for its survival. Fungal diseases, including chytrid fungus, represent an emerging threat to this and other Central American salamander species.
Where does Crescent-nostriled Thorius live?
Crescent-nostriled Thorius occurs in Mexico. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Crescent-nostriled Thorius?
The main threats to Crescent-nostriled Thorius 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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