Golden Thorius
CR

Golden Thorius

Thorius aureus

Declining

Photo: (с) 2009 Sean Michael Rovito, некоторые права защищены (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.

Thorius aureus 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 aureus inhabits montane cloud forests at elevations between 1,800-2,400 meters in the Sierra Madre Oriental of Mexico. These salamanders require the specific microclimate conditions found in moss-covered rocks and leaf litter within these high-altitude forests, where consistent moisture and cool temperatures are maintained.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Resource & habitat protectionSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in PLETHODONTIDAE

Honduran Lowland Worm SalamanderVU

Honduran Lowland Worm Salamander

Oedipina quadra

Declining
Kings River Slender SalamanderEN

Kings River Slender Salamander

Batrachoseps regius

Unknown
Conant's Mushroomtongue SalamanderVU

Conant's Mushroomtongue Salamander

Bolitoglossa conanti

Declining
VU

Pygmy Web-footed Salamander

Bolitoglossa pygmaea

Stable

Threatened in Mexico

EN

Turbinicarpus horripilus

Declining
CR

Turbinicarpus mandragora

Declining
EN

Opuntia pachyrrhiza

Declining
EN

Arachnothryx tacanensis

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Golden Thorius classified as Critically Endangered?
Golden 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 aureus 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 Golden Thorius live?
Golden 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 Golden Thorius?
The main threats to Golden Thorius are 11.1, 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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