Nanhu Salamander
CR

Nanhu Salamander

Hynobius glacialis

Declining

Photo: (c) ihenglan, all rights reserved, uploaded by ihenglan

Overview

Hynobius glacialis, the Nanhu salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Hynobiidae, endemic to Taiwan. Its common name refers to the type locality, Nanhu Mountain. The mountain contains glacial relic formations, the reason for the species epithet glacialis.

Hynobius glacialis faces severe threats from climate change, as rising temperatures directly impact its high-altitude cold-water breeding habitats. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation from human activities and infrastructure development in mountainous regions. Its dependence on specific temperature and moisture conditions for reproduction means that even small environmental changes can have catastrophic population effects.

Threat summary

Habitat

This salamander inhabits cold mountain streams and springs at high elevations, typically in forested areas with consistent cool temperatures and clean water sources. It requires specific microhabitat conditions including rocky substrates and stable water flow for successful breeding and larval development.

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recovery

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Nanhu Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
Nanhu 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. Hynobius glacialis faces severe threats from climate change, as rising temperatures directly impact its high-altitude cold-water breeding habitats. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation from human activities and infrastructure development in mountainous regions. Its dependence on specific temperature and moisture conditions for reproduction means that even small environmental changes can have catastrophic population effects.
Where does Nanhu Salamander live?
Nanhu Salamander occurs in Taiwan. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Nanhu Salamander?
The main threats to Nanhu Salamander are 11.1, 6.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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