CR

Pseudoeurycea aurantia

Local name: Peña Verde Salamander

Declining

Overview

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

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.

Threat summary

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.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Species managementSpecies recovery

Frequently asked questions

Why is Peña Verde Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
Peña Verde 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. 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.
Where does Peña Verde Salamander live?
Peña Verde Salamander occurs in Mexico. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Peña Verde Salamander?
The main threats to Peña Verde Salamander are 2.1, 7.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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