VISTA HERMOSA MINUTE SALAMANDER
Thorius insperatus – Hanken & Wake 1994
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Thorius insperatus is known only from a single specimen, collected in the lower cloud forest near Vista Hermosa, Oaxaca, Mexico.
HABITAT:
The only known specimen of this species was found beneath a log in lower cloud forest during the month of August.
NATURAL HISTORY:
Almost nothing is known [...]
SMITH’S MINUTE SALAMANDER
Thorius smithi – Hanken & Wake 1994
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Thorius smithi is known only from the Atlantic slopes of the Sierra de Juárez, between the towns of Vista Hermosa and Metates along Hwy. 175. Elevational distribution is from 800-1550 m (probably greater). This species occurs at a lower elevation than any other known Thorius.
HABITAT:
Thorius smithi [...]
ARBOREAL MINUTE SALAMANDER
Thorius arboreus – Hanken & Wake 1994
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Thorius arboreus is known to occur along the upper Atlantic slope of Cerro Pelón, Oaxaca between 2170 and 2755 meters elevation. Most specimens have been collected in the immediate vicinity of Hwy. 175.
HABITAT:
As it’s name implies, Thorius arboreus is commonly found within the leaf axils of [...]
LLANO DE LAS FLORES MINUTE SALAMANDER
Thorius boreas – Hanken & Wake 1994
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Thorius boreas is found in the vicinity of Llano de las Flores, and both north and south of the summit of Cerro Pelón. Elevational distribution from 2850-2950 m.
HABITAT:
This terrestrial species inhabits pine-oak-fir forests and their edges at elevations of 2850 to 2950 meters. [...]
GOLDEN (CERRO PELON) MINUTE SALAMANDER
Thorius aureus – Hanken & Wake 1994
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Thorius aureus is known only from the upper Atlantic slope of Cerro Pelón, Oaxaca at elevations of 2475 to 2930 meters. All collection sites are adjacent to Oaxaca Hwy. 175.
HABITAT:
This species inhabits terrestrial microhabitats in both upper cloud forest and montane pine-oak-fir forest.
NATURAL [...]
OMILTEMI MINUTE SALAMANDER
Thorius omiltemi – Hanken, Wake & Freeman 1999
IDENTIFICATION:
One of the largest species of Thorius.
DISTRIBUTION:
This species is known from the mountains west of Chilpancingo, Guerrero. It is found in Omiltemi State Ecological Park, as well as Cerro Cacho de Oro (between Carrizal de Bravos and Asoleadero). Elevational distribution is from 2200-2700 m.
HABITAT:
This [...]
GRAND MINUTE SALAMANDER
Thorius grandis – Hanken, Wake & Freeman 1999
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Thorius grandis is endemic to the mountains northeast of Atoyac de Alvarez, Guerrero. Most localities are from the slopes of Cerro Teotepec, although one record exists for Cerro Toro Muerto (about 10 air km northwest of Cerro Teotepec). On the Atoyac/Milpillas highway most records exist between [...]
ATOYAC MINUTE SALAMANDER
Thorius infernalis – Hanken, Wake & Freeman 1999
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
This species is known only from the type locality, in the Sierra Madre del Sur of central Guerrero, Mexico. Thorius infernalis certainly occurs over a broader region than is currently known, but much of this region of central Guerrero is inaccessable due to lack of roads. [...]
Adult, 8,641′, Oaxaca, Mexico
Defensive Coil
Close-Up of Head and Large Nostrils
UPPER CERRO MINUTE SALAMANDER
Thorius narisovalis – Taylor 1940
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Thorius narisovalis is known only from Cerro San Felipe, Oaxaca at elevations greater than 2,600 meters.
HABITAT:
Microhabitat, 8,640′, Cerro San Felipe, Oaxaca, Mexico
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
TYPE:
Described as Thorius narisovalis by Taylor (1940). Holotype: FMNH 100089. Type locality: “Elevation of about [...]
Adult, 7,871′, Oaxaca, Mexico
MACDOUGALL’S MINUTE SALAMANDER
Thorius macdougalli – Taylor 1949
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
This species is known only from high elevations on Cerro Pelón, Llano de las Flores, and associated ridges in the Sierra de Juárez of Oaxaca, Mexico.
HABITAT:
Thorius macdougalli occurs in pine-oak-fir and pine-fir forests and their edges. It is most often discovered beneath logs, bark and [...]
VERACRUZ MINUTE SALAMANDER
Thorius pennatulus – Cope 1869
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
TYPE:
Described as Thorius pennatulus by Cope (1869). Neotype: USNM 111017. Type locality: Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico.
PERSONAL NOTES:
CONSERVATION STATUS:
REFERENCES:
PAPALO MINUTE SALAMANDER
Thorius papaloae – Hanken & Wake 2001
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
TYPE:
Described as Thorius papaloae by Hanken and Wake (2001). Holotype: MVZ 183468. Type locality: 8 km (by road) NE of Concepción Pápalo, Oaxaca, México, elevation 2670 m. An adult female collected by J. Hanken and H. B. Shaffer on 15 February 1976.
PERSONAL NOTES:
In June 2006 [...]