EN

Gamboa Worm Salamander

Oedipina complex

Unknown

Overview

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.

Threat summary

Habitat

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.

Other threatened species in Plethodontidae

Tennessee Cave SalamanderVU

Tennessee Cave Salamander

Gyrinophilus palleucus

Unknown
Pigeon Mountain SalamanderVU

Pigeon Mountain Salamander

Plethodon petraeus

Unknown
Fourche Mountain SalamanderVU

Fourche Mountain Salamander

Plethodon fourchensis

Unknown
VU

Shasta Salamander

Hydromantes shastae

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Gamboa Worm Salamander classified as Endangered?
Gamboa Worm Salamander is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. 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.
Where does Gamboa Worm Salamander live?
Gamboa Worm Salamander occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Gamboa Worm Salamander?
The main threats to Gamboa Worm Salamander are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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