CR

Maritime Worm Salamander

Oedipina maritima

Declining

Overview

Oedipina maritima, commonly known as the maritime worm salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to Isla Escudo de Veraguas, Panama.

Oedipina maritima faces severe threats from coastal development and tourism infrastructure along Costa Rica's Pacific coast, which directly destroys its specialized beach and near-shore forest habitat. Climate change poses an additional critical threat through sea level rise and increased storm intensity, which can eliminate the narrow coastal zone this species depends upon. Agricultural expansion and urban development in adjacent areas further fragment the already limited suitable habitat.

Threat summary

Habitat

This salamander inhabits the narrow coastal zone of Costa Rica's Pacific coast, specifically found in beach vegetation, coastal forests, and areas immediately adjacent to the shoreline. It requires the specialized microhabitat conditions found in this transitional zone between marine and terrestrial environments.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical mangrove vegetation· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionResource & 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 Panama

VU

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Declining
EN

Baird's Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Declining
VU

Black Petrel

Procellaria parkinsoni

Stable
EN

Flame Rivulus

Cynodonichthys uroflammeus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Maritime Worm Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
Maritime 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 maritima faces severe threats from coastal development and tourism infrastructure along Costa Rica's Pacific coast, which directly destroys its specialized beach and near-shore forest habitat. Climate change poses an additional critical threat through sea level rise and increased storm intensity, which can eliminate the narrow coastal zone this species depends upon. Agricultural expansion and urban development in adjacent areas further fragment the already limited suitable habitat.
Where does Maritime Worm Salamander live?
Maritime Worm Salamander occurs in Panama. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Maritime Worm Salamander?
The main threats to Maritime Worm Salamander 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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