Bolitoglossa copia
Overview
The El Copé giant salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is a large salamander for its genus, measuring 81.5 mm (3.21 in) in snout–vent length. It is entirely black in color, excepting its throat and chest, which are white.
It also has wide, extremely webbed feet. It is endemic to Panama, where it has been recorded only from Cerro Peña Blanca, a mountain in the General de División Omar Torrijos Herrera National Park. It was collected from rainforest at an elevation of 1,315 m (4,300 ft).
It is classified as being critically endangered by the IUCN due its extremely limited range and ongoing habitat degradation.
Bolitoglossa copia faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion within its extremely limited range in Costa Rica's cloud forests. The species' dependence on specific microhabitat conditions makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and climate-induced changes in moisture levels. Infrastructure development and coffee cultivation have further reduced available habitat, while the species' small population size increases extinction risk from stochastic events.
Habitat
This salamander inhabits montane cloud forests at elevations between 1,400-1,800 meters in Costa Rica's Cordillera de Tilarán. It requires specific microhabitats with high humidity levels, typically found under logs, rocks, and leaf litter in primary and well-preserved secondary forest environments.
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in PLETHODONTIDAE
Threatened in Panama
Frequently asked questions
Why is Bolitoglossa copia classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Bolitoglossa copia live?
What are the main threats to Bolitoglossa copia?
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