CR

Taylor's Salamander

Ambystoma taylori

Unknown

Overview

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

Ambystoma taylori faces severe threats from urban expansion and agricultural development around Mexico City, which has dramatically reduced its highland habitat. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and urban waste has degraded the quality of breeding ponds essential for reproduction. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes and habitat fragmentation.

Threat summary

Habitat

This salamander is endemic to high-altitude pine-oak forests and adjacent grasslands in the mountains surrounding Mexico City, typically found at elevations between 2,400-3,000 meters. It depends on temporary ponds and slow-moving streams in these montane environments for breeding.

Wetlands (inland) - Permanent freshwater lakes· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in AMBYSTOMATIDAE

Frosted Flatwoods SalamanderEN

Frosted Flatwoods Salamander

Ambystoma cingulatum

Declining
Reticulated Flatwoods SalamanderEN

Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander

Ambystoma bishopi

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EN

Michoacan Stream Salamander

Ambystoma ordinarium

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Mountain Stream SiredonEN

Mountain Stream Siredon

Ambystoma altamirani

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Threatened in Mexico

Davis Mountains CottontailVU

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Pinus rzedowskii

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Maze CoralCR

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Meandrina meandrites

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Taylor's Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
Taylor's 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. Ambystoma taylori faces severe threats from urban expansion and agricultural development around Mexico City, which has dramatically reduced its highland habitat. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and urban waste has degraded the quality of breeding ponds essential for reproduction. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes and habitat fragmentation.
Where does Taylor's Salamander live?
Taylor's 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 Taylor's Salamander?
The main threats to Taylor's Salamander are 2.1, 7.2, 9.3.4, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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