Graceful splayfoot salamander
| Graceful splayfoot salamander | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Plethodontidae |
| Genus: | Chiropterotriton |
| Species: | C. cracens
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| Binomial name | |
| Chiropterotriton cracens | |
| Synonyms | |
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The graceful splayfoot salamander (Chiropterotriton cracens), also known as the graceful flat-footed salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to the state of Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico. Its type locality is near Gómez Farías, Tamaulipas.[3]
Description
[edit]Chiropterotriton cracens is a small, slender salamander. Adults measure 24–31 mm (0.94–1.22 in) in snout–vent length. The tail is long, maximally 1.5 times the snout-vent length. Limbs are well developed; hind legs are slightly longer than forelegs. Dorsal colour is light brown, sides are slightly darker.[2]
Females collected in summer had more and smaller eggs than those collected in spring when eggs were quite large, 1–2.5 mm (0.039–0.098 in), but few in number (3-5 per side). Juveniles (12–14 mm (0.47–0.55 in) body length) have been collected in May and August.[2]
Habitat and conservation
[edit]Its natural habitat are cloud forests between 1000 and 2000 meters elevation, where it lives in bromeliads.[1]
Chiropterotriton cracens only known from the El Cielo Biosphere Reserve, a protected area. Despite this, Chiropterotriton cracens has declined. The reasons for this decline are unknown but could relate to climate change or disease (e.g. chytridiomycosis).[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Chiropterotriton cracens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T59224A53978189. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T59224A53978189.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Rabb, G. B. (1958). "On certain Mexican salamanders of the plethodontid genus Chiropterotriton" (PDF). Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan. 587: 1–37.
- ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Chiropterotriton cracens Rabb, 1958". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 14 December 2014.