CR

Oedipina tomasi

Declining

Overview

Oedipina tomasi is a small, lungless salamander in the family Plethodontidae. This critically endangered amphibian has only ever been observed in the Cusuco National Park in Honduras. Very few specimens have been observed in the wild.

Oedipina tomasi 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 species 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 well-preserved forest floor microhabitats with abundant leaf litter, fallen logs, and consistent moisture levels typical of tropical montane ecosystems.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryEx-situ conservationCompliance 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 Oedipina tomasi classified as Critically Endangered?
Oedipina tomasi 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 tomasi 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 Oedipina tomasi live?
Oedipina tomasi 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 Oedipina tomasi?
The main threats to Oedipina tomasi are 11.1, 2.1, 3.3, and 4.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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