CR

Volcan Tajumulco Bromeliad Salamander

Dendrotriton bromeliacius

Declining

Overview

Dendrotriton bromeliacius is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is found in Guatemala.

Dendrotriton bromeliacius faces severe threats from deforestation and habitat fragmentation in Guatemala's cloud forests, where its specialized bromeliad-dependent lifestyle makes it extremely vulnerable to forest clearance. Climate change poses an additional critical threat, as rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns directly impact the moisture-dependent bromeliad ecosystems this salamander requires for survival. The species' extremely limited range and small population size amplify the impact of these threats, making local extinctions highly probable.

Threat summary

Habitat

This salamander inhabits cloud forests of Guatemala at elevations between 1,400-2,100 meters, living exclusively within bromeliad plants that collect moisture from fog and rain. The species requires the humid microclimate provided by these epiphytic plants in undisturbed montane forest canopies.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies 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 Guatemala

EN

Arachnothryx tacanensis

Declining
EN

Baird's Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Declining
VU

Phrygiopilus acanthophallus

Stable

Frequently asked questions

Why is Volcan Tajumulco Bromeliad Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
Volcan Tajumulco Bromeliad 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. Dendrotriton bromeliacius faces severe threats from deforestation and habitat fragmentation in Guatemala's cloud forests, where its specialized bromeliad-dependent lifestyle makes it extremely vulnerable to forest clearance. Climate change poses an additional critical threat, as rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns directly impact the moisture-dependent bromeliad ecosystems this salamander requires for survival. The species' extremely limited range and small population size amplify the impact of these threats, making local extinctions highly probable.
Where does Volcan Tajumulco Bromeliad Salamander live?
Volcan Tajumulco Bromeliad Salamander occurs in Guatemala, and Mexico. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Volcan Tajumulco Bromeliad Salamander?
The main threats to Volcan Tajumulco Bromeliad Salamander are 11.1, 2.1, 5.1, and 5.1.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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