CR

Leaping False Brook Salamander

Pseudoeurycea saltator

Declining

Overview

Pseudoeurycea saltator is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to Oaxaca, Mexico, and only known from the northern slopes of the Sierra de Juarez above Vista Hermosa.

Pseudoeurycea saltator faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted montane range. The species is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, as rising temperatures force populations to higher elevations with increasingly limited suitable habitat. Deforestation and conversion of cloud forests to agricultural land have fragmented remaining populations, while pollution from agricultural runoff degrades water quality in breeding streams.

Threat summary

Habitat

This salamander inhabits montane cloud forests and pine-oak forests at elevations between 2,400-3,200 meters in central Mexico. It requires cool, humid microhabitats near streams and springs, often found under logs, rocks, and leaf litter in well-preserved forest areas.

Conservation measures underway

Site/area managementSpecies 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 Leaping False Brook Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
Leaping False Brook 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. Pseudoeurycea saltator faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted montane range. The species is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, as rising temperatures force populations to higher elevations with increasingly limited suitable habitat. Deforestation and conversion of cloud forests to agricultural land have fragmented remaining populations, while pollution from agricultural runoff degrades water quality in breeding streams.
Where does Leaping False Brook Salamander live?
Leaping False Brook Salamander 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 Leaping False Brook Salamander?
The main threats to Leaping False Brook Salamander are 2.1, 2.3, 5.3, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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