McDiarmid Thorius
Thorius munificus
Overview
Thorius munificus is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to Mexico and only known from near its type locality near Las Vigas, Veracruz. Its natural habitats are pine-oak and pine forests, woodlands, and Arbutus forests with abundant shrubby and ericaceous plants. The species is threatened by habitat loss caused by logging, agriculture, and human settlement.
Thorius munificus 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 moisture-dependent microhabitats essential for this salamander's survival.
Habitat
This diminutive salamander inhabits montane cloud forests at elevations between 2,400-3,000 meters in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico. It requires the consistently moist microhabitats found under logs, rocks, and leaf litter in these fog-shrouded forests.
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in PLETHODONTIDAE
Threatened in Mexico
Frequently asked questions
Why is McDiarmid Thorius classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does McDiarmid Thorius live?
What are the main threats to McDiarmid Thorius?
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