Mérida Mountain Salamander - Bolitoglossa orestes
( Brame & Wake, 1962 )

 

 

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Subspecies: Unknown
Est. World Population:

CITES Status: NOT LISTED
IUCN Status: Endangered
U.S. ESA Status: NOT LISTED

Body Length:
Tail Length:
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Top Speed:
Jumping Ability: (Horizontal)

Life Span: in the Wild
Life Span: in Captivity

Sexual Maturity: (Females)
Sexual Maturity: (Males)
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Gestation Period:

Habitat:

It is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal species that lives in cloud forests. Historical records from the type series suggest that this species occurred in the Páramo ecosystem between 3,000-3,500 m asl. However, this species was not recorded again in these ecosystems. It has been seen on leaves (sometimes on branches or stems) of Piperaceae species, Pitcarnia sp., Cavendishia sp., Clusia sp., and ferns (Cadenas et al. 2009, Barrio-Amorós et al. 2010), and along the edge of trails (Javier García, unpublished data). Some individuals have been found during the day under mosses, roots, or within decomposing logs. High densities of individuals have been observed in disturbed habitats (ie. secondary vegetation with abundant mosses and rotten logs on the edges of trails) (Javier García, personal communication 2020). Ants, mites, and pseudoscorpions are the most frequent items found in its diet (Cadenas et al. 2009, Díaz de Pascual et al. 2010). It is a direct developing species.


Range:
This species is known from several localities (eg. San Javier del Valle, Monte Zerpa, Macho Capaz region, San Eusebio Forest Reserve, El Chorotal and Estancia La Bravera) along Sierra La Culata in Cordillera de Mérida, Mérida state, in Venezuela. The elevation of the documented localities range between 1,800-3,500 m asl. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 2,103 km2, and it occurs in four threat-defined locations when considering the expansion of agricultural and urban frontiers.

Conservation:

Conservation Actions In-Place
There are no conservation measures specifically aimed at this species, but its geographic distribution is almost entirely contained within the Sierra de la Culata National Park and Estancia La Bravera, a protected private land.

Conservation Needed
It is necessary to enforce park boundaries and its land use restrictions.

Research Needed
Further research is needed to determine its population size and trends, threats and ecology.


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