Orphan Salamander
CR

Orphan Salamander

Bolitoglossa capitana

Declining

Photo: (c) Juan Sebastián León Lleras, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Juan Sebastián León Lleras

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Bolitoglossa capitana faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its extremely limited range in Costa Rica's cloud forests. The species' dependence on specific microhabitat conditions makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, as even small disturbances can eliminate suitable breeding sites. Climate change poses an additional critical threat, as rising temperatures are causing upward shifts in cloud forest zones, potentially eliminating the cool, moist conditions this salamander requires for survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This salamander inhabits the leaf litter and understory of pristine cloud forests at elevations between 1,400-2,100 meters in Costa Rica's Cordillera de Tilarán. It requires consistently cool, humid microclimates with dense canopy cover and abundant moss and bromeliad growth that maintain the moisture levels essential for its survival.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Species 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 Colombia

EN

Helena's Marsupial Frog

Gastrotheca helenae

Stable
EN

Varied White-fronted Capuchin

Cebus versicolor

Declining
VU

Brunellia pallida

Stable
VU

Chaceus ibiricensis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Orphan Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
Orphan 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. Bolitoglossa capitana faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its extremely limited range in Costa Rica's cloud forests. The species' dependence on specific microhabitat conditions makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, as even small disturbances can eliminate suitable breeding sites. Climate change poses an additional critical threat, as rising temperatures are causing upward shifts in cloud forest zones, potentially eliminating the cool, moist conditions this salamander requires for survival.
Where does Orphan Salamander live?
Orphan Salamander occurs in Colombia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Orphan Salamander?
The main threats to Orphan Salamander are 2.1, 5.3, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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