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| Subspecies: | Unknown |
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| Est. World Population: | |
| CITES Status: | NOT LISTED |
| IUCN Status: | Endangered |
| U.S. ESA Status: | NOT LISTED |
| Body Length: | |
| Tail Length: | |
| Shoulder Height: | |
| Weight: | |
| Top Speed: | |
| Jumping Ability: | (Horizontal) |
| Life Span: | in the Wild |
| Life Span: | in Captivity |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Males) |
| Litter Size: | |
| Gestation Period: | |
Habitat:
This species can be found in moss-covered talus, under bark, rocks, beneath and inside logs and in and near mixed coniferous forests of fir, spruce, and aspen (Stebbins 1985, Ramotnik 1986). It occurs underground except during periods of warm seasonal rains. It is assumed to lay its eggs underground as no egg clutch has ever been found in the wild, and breeds by direct development. Subpopulations decline but persist after clear-cutting and slashing of forest, and the species has been observed post wildfires, but likely in reduced numbers and possible changes size/age distributions (Cummer and Painter 2007); long-term persistence in areas with clear cuts or wildfire remains understudied.
Range:
This species is restricted to the Jemez Mountains in Sandoval, Los Alamos, and Río Arriba Counties, New Mexico, USA. It occurs at high elevations between 2,133–3,435 m asl (Stebbins 1985b, Degenhardt, Painter and Price 1996, Petranka 1998, Green et al. 2014). Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 1,020 km2.
Conservation:
Conservation Actions In-Place
The majority of this species' habitat is located on federally managed lands, including the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the National Park Service (Bandelier National Monument), Valles Caldera National Preserve, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, with some habitat located on tribal land and private lands (New Mexico Endemic Salamander Team 2000, USFWS 2013). Final approval of the Jemez Mountains Salamander Conservation Agreement in 2000 represents a commitment by the US Forest Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to manage this amphibian in a manner consistent with this agreement, and with each other's policies, in order to reduce threats and ensure that the species is conserved (New Mexico Department of Game and Fish 2000). These agencies, in addition to the National Park Service and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) continue to collaborate to identify conservation actions for this species. This species is listed as Threatened by the State Game Commission of New Mexico, as a Species of Concern by the U.S. Forest Service, and as of 2013 it is listed federally as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act. It is protected from harvest by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service special order "Animal Possession Restrictions" No. 10–230, 22 November 1999. Additionally, as this species has tested positive for Bd, LANS biologists have proactively been monitoring this species for Bd since 2007 (Hathcock et al. 2017).
In an effort to prevent the introduction of Bsal into the US, an Interim Rule of the Lacey Act has been enacted that bans the importation of 201 species of salamanders (USFWS 2016). Additionally, a temporary voluntary trade moratorium of imports of Asian salamander species that are known to carry the disease until such time as effective testing and treatment regimens can be developed and distributed has been recommended to all exporters, shippers, sellers and buyers by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC). A North America Bsal Task Force has also been created, with working groups designed to address a variety of disease prevention and mitigation goals (North America Bsal Task Force 2021).
Conservation Needed
Continued enforcement of protected areas and legislation will be important for maintaining critical forest habitat within the range. Additionally, the use of low-severity fires should be included in the habitat management plan for this species (Margolis et al. 2016). As this species is listed and has designated critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act, it does get considered when federal agencies propose to take action that may affect the species or its habitat; however, these actions are not typically specifically tailored for the species.
Research Needed
Further information on this species' distribution, population size and trends is needed as is research to better understand the role and develop mitigation strategies for threats such as climate change, drought, and disease are needed. Research on understanding impacts from forest fuels reduction practices and strategies are also recommended.
The majority of this species' habitat is located on federally managed lands, including the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the National Park Service (Bandelier National Monument), Valles Caldera National Preserve, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, with some habitat located on tribal land and private lands (New Mexico Endemic Salamander Team 2000, USFWS 2013). Final approval of the Jemez Mountains Salamander Conservation Agreement in 2000 represents a commitment by the US Forest Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to manage this amphibian in a manner consistent with this agreement, and with each other's policies, in order to reduce threats and ensure that the species is conserved (New Mexico Department of Game and Fish 2000). These agencies, in addition to the National Park Service and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) continue to collaborate to identify conservation actions for this species. This species is listed as Threatened by the State Game Commission of New Mexico, as a Species of Concern by the U.S. Forest Service, and as of 2013 it is listed federally as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act. It is protected from harvest by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service special order "Animal Possession Restrictions" No. 10–230, 22 November 1999. Additionally, as this species has tested positive for Bd, LANS biologists have proactively been monitoring this species for Bd since 2007 (Hathcock et al. 2017).
In an effort to prevent the introduction of Bsal into the US, an Interim Rule of the Lacey Act has been enacted that bans the importation of 201 species of salamanders (USFWS 2016). Additionally, a temporary voluntary trade moratorium of imports of Asian salamander species that are known to carry the disease until such time as effective testing and treatment regimens can be developed and distributed has been recommended to all exporters, shippers, sellers and buyers by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC). A North America Bsal Task Force has also been created, with working groups designed to address a variety of disease prevention and mitigation goals (North America Bsal Task Force 2021).
Conservation Needed
Continued enforcement of protected areas and legislation will be important for maintaining critical forest habitat within the range. Additionally, the use of low-severity fires should be included in the habitat management plan for this species (Margolis et al. 2016). As this species is listed and has designated critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act, it does get considered when federal agencies propose to take action that may affect the species or its habitat; however, these actions are not typically specifically tailored for the species.
Research Needed
Further information on this species' distribution, population size and trends is needed as is research to better understand the role and develop mitigation strategies for threats such as climate change, drought, and disease are needed. Research on understanding impacts from forest fuels reduction practices and strategies are also recommended.