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| Subspecies: | Unknown |
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| Est. World Population: | |
| CITES Status: | NOT LISTED |
| IUCN Status: | Vulnerable |
| 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: | |
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Habitat:
This semi-aquatic species inhabits permanent and temporary ponds, roadside ditches, and quiet stream pools, within thorn scrub, tropical semi-deciduous forest and tropical oak forest. It is usually found among submerged vegetation, and adults are found under rocks and other artificial and natural objects when ponds dry up. The eggs are attached to submerged vegetation in shallow water (Garrett and Barker 1987). The species seems tolerant of habitat degradation if adjacent water bodies are available (S. Terán Juárez pers. comm. 2019).
Range:
This species ranges along the Gulf Coastal Plain, from south of the San Antonio River in Texas, USA, southward along the Atlantic versant of Tamaulipas, Mexico into northern Veracruz, eastern San Luis Potosí, extreme northeastern Hidalgo, and Puebla (Mecham 1968, Ramírez-Bautista et al. 2010, 2014, Lemos-Espinal and Dixon 2013, Carbajal-Márquez et al. 2014, Woolrich-Piña et al. 2017). It has never been found more than 130 km inland and occurs from sea level up to 990 m asl.
Many historical occurrences are no longer extant. The US Fish and Wildlife Service survey in the mid-1980s reported five localities, two in Texas and three in Mexico, of 221 surveyed. The localities in Mexico are few and far between, and in 2004 the species was reported as absent from two of the four localities known at the time. In 2019, the species is still present in along the north and south of Tamaulipas, but absent in central Tamaulipas, and is still present in San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo and northern Veracruz, but absent from the southern area of Veracruz and northern Puebla (A. Calzada and S. Terán Juárez pers. comm. 2019). This species occurs at elevations ranging from sea level to approximately 990 m asl.
Many historical occurrences are no longer extant. The US Fish and Wildlife Service survey in the mid-1980s reported five localities, two in Texas and three in Mexico, of 221 surveyed. The localities in Mexico are few and far between, and in 2004 the species was reported as absent from two of the four localities known at the time. In 2019, the species is still present in along the north and south of Tamaulipas, but absent in central Tamaulipas, and is still present in San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo and northern Veracruz, but absent from the southern area of Veracruz and northern Puebla (A. Calzada and S. Terán Juárez pers. comm. 2019). This species occurs at elevations ranging from sea level to approximately 990 m asl.
Conservation:
Conservation Actions In-Place
The species has been reported from the Laguna Atascosa and Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuges, and from the Audubon Sabal Palm Grove Sanctuary in Texas, and may occur in other protected areas. In Mexico, it occurs in the Reserva de la Biósfera Sierra de Tamaulipas and Laguna la Vega municipal protected area in Tamaulipas, where the species' habitat is fairly well-protected (Mexico Red List Assessment Workshop 2019). It also occurs in Reserva de la Biósfera Tehuacán-Cuicatlán (Woolrich-Piña et al. 2017). This species is listed as 'Threatened' by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and is considered 'Endangered' by the Mexican government. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is funding ongoing research conducted through the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) to better understand the status of this species and the threats it faces (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts 2021).
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
Expansion of effective forest preservation and continued management of existing protected areas is essential for the conservation of this species. Proactive, precautionary steps should be taken to detect the arrival of Bsal in Mexico through the swabbing of both wild and imported salamanders, in addition to a total ban on the importation of non-native salamanders (Mexico Red List Assessment Workshop 2019).
Research Needed
Research is needed on its population size, distribution and trends, the water quality requirements of aquatic stages, its terrestrial habitat and dietary requirements. Potential habitat needs to be surveyed for specimens at optimal times of the year (early spring or after rains).
The species has been reported from the Laguna Atascosa and Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuges, and from the Audubon Sabal Palm Grove Sanctuary in Texas, and may occur in other protected areas. In Mexico, it occurs in the Reserva de la Biósfera Sierra de Tamaulipas and Laguna la Vega municipal protected area in Tamaulipas, where the species' habitat is fairly well-protected (Mexico Red List Assessment Workshop 2019). It also occurs in Reserva de la Biósfera Tehuacán-Cuicatlán (Woolrich-Piña et al. 2017). This species is listed as 'Threatened' by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and is considered 'Endangered' by the Mexican government. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is funding ongoing research conducted through the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) to better understand the status of this species and the threats it faces (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts 2021).
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
Expansion of effective forest preservation and continued management of existing protected areas is essential for the conservation of this species. Proactive, precautionary steps should be taken to detect the arrival of Bsal in Mexico through the swabbing of both wild and imported salamanders, in addition to a total ban on the importation of non-native salamanders (Mexico Red List Assessment Workshop 2019).
Research Needed
Research is needed on its population size, distribution and trends, the water quality requirements of aquatic stages, its terrestrial habitat and dietary requirements. Potential habitat needs to be surveyed for specimens at optimal times of the year (early spring or after rains).