Ambystoma amblycephalum
BLUNT-HEADED SALAMANDER
Ambystoma amblycephalum - Taylor 1940
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Ambystoma amblycephalum is only known to occur in the region around Tacícuaro, west of the city of Morelia, in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. Its elevational distribution is centered around 2,000m. Records of this species elsewhere in Michoacán and Jalisco states are apparently based on mis-identifed specimens.
HABITAT:
This species occurs in pine-oak forests interspersed with grasslands and cleared areas.
NATURAL HISTORY:
Little is known of this salamander’s natural history; it lives a largely terrestrial life and breeds in relatively deep, still waters such as stock ponds, lakes and probably slow-moving streams.
TAXONOMY:
Many localities recorded for this species are erroneously based on mid-identified Ambystoma ordinarium.
TYPE:
Described as Ambystoma amblycephala by Taylor (1940). Holotype: FMNH 100104 . Type locality: 15 kilometers west of Morelia (Tacícuaro), Michoacán, Mexico.
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have no experience with this species, having never been within its range.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List Status for Ambystoma amblycephalum is currently listed as “Critically Endangered” due to a highly fragmented and possibly extirpated population, as well as continued habitat degradation within it’s small natural range. Dolores del Carmen Huacúz Elías (2001) reported the status of the type locality for this species as “…a small waterway which serves the local people as a sewage effluent and refuse container.” Needless to say, no Ambystoma were found here and the species could be considered extirpated from this site. I am not yet aware of any extant populations confirmed of this species. More field work is desperately needed to confirm the presence/absence of this salamander in Mexico. A. amblycephalum is afforded Special Protection status by the Mexican Government, but it does not occur in any protected areas.
REFERENCES:
Huacúz Elias, D. de. C. 2001. Estado de Conservación del Genero Ambystoma en Michoacán, Mexico. 53 pgs. ISBN 968-817-391-6
Webb, R.G. 2004. Observations on Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum Complex, Family Ambystomatidae) in Mexico with Description of a New Species. Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society, 40:122-143.