Graceful splayfoot salamander
| Chiropterotriton cracens | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Plethodontidae |
| Genus: | Chiropterotriton |
| Species: | C. cracens |
| Binomial name | |
| Chiropterotriton cracens Rabb, 1958[2] | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Chiropterotriton chondrostega cracens Rabb, 1958 | |
The graceful splayfoot salamander or graceful flat-footed salamander (Chiropterotriton cracens) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to the Tamaulipas state in northeastern Mexico. Its type locality is near Gómez Farías, Tamaulipas.[3]
Description
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
Its natural habitat are cloud forests where it lives in bromeliads.[1]
Chiropterotriton cracens only known from the Reserva de la Biósfera Rancho del Cielo, 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
- 1 2 3 Parra Olea, G. & Wake, D. (2008). "Chiropterotriton cracens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- 1 2 3 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.