CR

La Fortuna Worm Salamander

Oedipina gephyra

Declining

Overview

Oedipina gephyra, commonly known as the La Fortuna worm salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to Honduras.

Oedipina gephyra faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its extremely limited range in Costa Rica's montane forests. The species' specialized habitat requirements and small population size make it particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, including shifting temperature and precipitation patterns that could alter the cool, humid microenvironments it depends upon. Mining activities and infrastructure development pose additional pressures on the remaining forest fragments where this salamander persists.

Threat summary

Habitat

This salamander inhabits cool, humid montane cloud forests and adjacent secondary forests at elevations between 1,400-2,100 meters in Costa Rica's Cordillera de Talamanca. It requires specific microhabitat conditions including leaf litter, rotting logs, and moss-covered surfaces that maintain consistent moisture levels.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryCompliance and enforcement

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 Honduras

EN

Baird's Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Declining
EN

Perymenium hondurense

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is La Fortuna Worm Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
La Fortuna Worm Salamander 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. Oedipina gephyra faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its extremely limited range in Costa Rica's montane forests. The species' specialized habitat requirements and small population size make it particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, including shifting temperature and precipitation patterns that could alter the cool, humid microenvironments it depends upon. Mining activities and infrastructure development pose additional pressures on the remaining forest fragments where this salamander persists.
Where does La Fortuna Worm Salamander live?
La Fortuna Worm Salamander occurs in Honduras. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to La Fortuna Worm Salamander?
The main threats to La Fortuna Worm Salamander are 1.1, 11.1, 2.1, and 2.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.