Terrestrial Splayfoot Salamander
CR

Terrestrial Splayfoot Salamander

Chiropterotriton terrestris

Unknown

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

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

Chiropterotriton terrestris faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited montane forest range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes, while climate change poses additional risks by altering the cool, moist conditions essential for its survival. Deforestation for coffee plantations and cattle ranching has fragmented remaining habitat patches, isolating populations and reducing genetic diversity.

Threat summary

Habitat

This terrestrial salamander inhabits cool, humid montane cloud forests and pine-oak forests at elevations between 2,400-3,100 meters in the mountains of central Mexico. It requires areas with abundant leaf litter, fallen logs, and moss-covered rocks that provide the moist microhabitats essential for its survival and reproduction.

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryCompliance and enforcement

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Terrestrial Splayfoot Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
Terrestrial Splayfoot 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. Chiropterotriton terrestris faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited montane forest range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes, while climate change poses additional risks by altering the cool, moist conditions essential for its survival. Deforestation for coffee plantations and cattle ranching has fragmented remaining habitat patches, isolating populations and reducing genetic diversity.
Where does Terrestrial Splayfoot Salamander live?
Terrestrial Splayfoot 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 Terrestrial Splayfoot Salamander?
The main threats to Terrestrial Splayfoot Salamander are 2.1, 5.1, 5.1.1, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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