Pseudoeurycea aurantia
Local name: Peña Verde Salamander
Overview
Pseudoeurycea aurantia, commonly known as Peña Verde salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to Oaxaca, Mexico and only known from its type locality near Peña Verde, which is the northernmost high peak in the Sierra de Juárez.
Pseudoeurycea aurantia faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted montane range. Deforestation for coffee plantations and cattle ranching has fragmented the cloud forest ecosystems this salamander depends upon. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the moisture regimes essential for this species' survival, as rising temperatures push suitable habitat to higher elevations where less area is available.
Habitat
This salamander inhabits cloud forests and pine-oak forests at elevations between 2,400-3,100 meters in the mountains of central Mexico. It requires cool, humid microhabitats with abundant leaf litter and fallen logs, typically found in well-preserved montane forest ecosystems.
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in PLETHODONTIDAE
Threatened in Mexico
Frequently asked questions
Why is Peña Verde Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Peña Verde Salamander live?
What are the main threats to Peña Verde Salamander?
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