Gamboa Worm Salamander
Oedipina complex
Oedipina complex, commonly known as the Gamboa worm salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. The species is native to western South America from Costa Rica to western Colombia and north-western Ecuador.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Amphibia
Order
Caudata
Family
Plethodontidae
Genus
Oedipina
Gamboa Worm Salamander belongs to the family Plethodontidae, order Caudata, within the Amphibia class.
Species Profile
Oedipina complex, commonly known as the Gamboa worm salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. The species is native to western South America from Costa Rica to western Colombia and north-western Ecuador.
The Gamboa Worm Salamander faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat destruction from deforestation and urban development in its limited range around the Panama Canal area. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes and habitat fragmentation.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
The preferred natural habitat of Oedipina complex is humid tropical lowland forest, where it can be found on the ground, bushy vegetation, logs, and rocks. It can also be found on forest edges, but it does not survive in degraded areas.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
The Gamboa Worm Salamander faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat destruction from deforestation and urban development in its limited range around the Panama Canal area. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes and habitat fragmentation.
Deforestation and habitat loss
Habitat fragmentation
Small population size and restricted range
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Gamboa Worm Salamander (Oedipina complex). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/gamboa-worm-salamander