Cryptotriton monzoni
CR

Cryptotriton monzoni

Declining

Photo: (c) 2008 Sean Michael Rovito, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)

Overview

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

Cryptotriton monzoni faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and logging activities in Guatemala's cloud forest regions. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes, while climate change poses additional risks by altering the cool, humid conditions essential for its survival. Pollution from agricultural runoff and pesticides further degrades the pristine stream environments this salamander requires for reproduction.

Threat summary

Habitat

This salamander inhabits pristine cloud forests and montane streams in the highlands of Guatemala, typically found in cool, humid environments with dense vegetation cover. It requires clean, well-oxygenated water sources and is closely associated with moss-covered rocks and leaf litter in primary forest ecosystems.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionResource & habitat protectionSpecies recovery

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Pygmy Web-footed Salamander

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Threatened in Guatemala

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Cryptotriton monzoni classified as Critically Endangered?
Cryptotriton monzoni 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. Cryptotriton monzoni faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and logging activities in Guatemala's cloud forest regions. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes, while climate change poses additional risks by altering the cool, humid conditions essential for its survival. Pollution from agricultural runoff and pesticides further degrades the pristine stream environments this salamander requires for reproduction.
Where does Cryptotriton monzoni live?
Cryptotriton monzoni 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 Cryptotriton monzoni?
The main threats to Cryptotriton monzoni are 1.1, 11.1, 2.1, and 2.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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