Cofre de Perote Salamander
Isthmura naucampatepetl
Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Overview
Isthmura naucampatepetl, commonly known as the Cofre de Perote salamander, is a species of salamanders in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to the Sierra Madre Oriental in central Veracruz, Mexico, where it is known from between Cofre de Perote and Cerro Volcancillo, a satellite peak of Cofre de Perote.
Isthmura naucampatepetl faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and logging activities in its montane forest habitat. The species' extremely restricted range on Volcán Nauhcampatépetl makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes and human disturbance. Climate change poses an additional threat by potentially shifting suitable temperature and moisture conditions upslope beyond the species' current elevational range.
Habitat
This salamander inhabits montane cloud forests and pine-oak forests on the slopes of Volcán Nauhcampatépetl in central Mexico. It occurs at elevations between 2,800-3,400 meters in areas with high humidity and dense vegetation cover.
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in PLETHODONTIDAE
Threatened in Mexico
Frequently asked questions
Why is Cofre de Perote Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Cofre de Perote Salamander live?
What are the main threats to Cofre de Perote Salamander?
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