Cave splayfoot salamander | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Urodela |
Family: | Plethodontidae |
Genus: | Chiropterotriton |
Species: | C. mosaueri
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Binomial name | |
Chiropterotriton mosaueri |
The cave splayfoot salamander (Chiropterotriton mosaueri) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to Mexico, specifically in the Sierra Madre Oriental pine–oak forests [2] of the northern region of Hidalgo, Mexico. [3] The species was thought to be extinct for over 70 years since its first observation and a study of five salamanders made by Robert Livingston and Harold T. Woodall in 1937. [2] In 2010, this species was spotted for the first time since its 1941 description [4] by Dr. Sean Rovito who identified two individuals during his search for other lost amphibian species. [5]
When preserved in alcohol they found the specimens had an overall dark brown coloration with a light tan underbelly. [2] Features of interest were their webbed "spatulate" feet, number of costal grooves (12–13) and tails which were slightly longer in length than the head and body combined. [2] Their proportionally longer limbs, shorter heads, and large quantity of vomerine teeth set them apart from other species of Chiropterotriton. [2] Their natural habitat is believed to be damp caves where they were initially discovered, however the exact locations are unknown. [2] They are threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation and the expansion of agriculture in the region which causes the caves to become dry. [3]
The cave splayfoot salamander and the bigfoot splayfoot salamander ( Chiropterotriton magnipes) are considered to be sympatric since both are rare species and observed in the same cave. [6]
Cave splayfoot salamander | |
---|---|
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Urodela |
Family: | Plethodontidae |
Genus: | Chiropterotriton |
Species: | C. mosaueri
|
Binomial name | |
Chiropterotriton mosaueri |
The cave splayfoot salamander (Chiropterotriton mosaueri) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to Mexico, specifically in the Sierra Madre Oriental pine–oak forests [2] of the northern region of Hidalgo, Mexico. [3] The species was thought to be extinct for over 70 years since its first observation and a study of five salamanders made by Robert Livingston and Harold T. Woodall in 1937. [2] In 2010, this species was spotted for the first time since its 1941 description [4] by Dr. Sean Rovito who identified two individuals during his search for other lost amphibian species. [5]
When preserved in alcohol they found the specimens had an overall dark brown coloration with a light tan underbelly. [2] Features of interest were their webbed "spatulate" feet, number of costal grooves (12–13) and tails which were slightly longer in length than the head and body combined. [2] Their proportionally longer limbs, shorter heads, and large quantity of vomerine teeth set them apart from other species of Chiropterotriton. [2] Their natural habitat is believed to be damp caves where they were initially discovered, however the exact locations are unknown. [2] They are threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation and the expansion of agriculture in the region which causes the caves to become dry. [3]
The cave splayfoot salamander and the bigfoot splayfoot salamander ( Chiropterotriton magnipes) are considered to be sympatric since both are rare species and observed in the same cave. [6]