Ambystoma flavipiperatum
YELLOW-PEPPERED SALAMANDER
Ambystoma flavipiperatum - Dixon 1963
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Ambystoma flavipiperatum is definately known only from the State of Jalisco, Mexico. It is found at moderate elevations (2,000-2,300m) in the vicinity of Tapalpa, and possibly Mazamitla; it may occur farther north in the Sierra Jolalpa, Sierra Cacoma and Sierra Verde, Jalisco.
HABITAT:
This species is found in meadows and grasslands surrounded by pine and pine-oak woodland. IUCN Global Amphibian Assessment lists its habitat as “…desert shrubland and thorn forest.” but I cannot recall any such habitat in the vicinity of Tapalpa, Jalisco.
NATURAL HISTORY:
This is a primarily terrestrial species, spending much of the year within the burrows of rodents but emerging to forage during periods of rain. It breeds in slow-moving streams and both natural and artificial ponds during the summer rainy season. During the onset of the summer rains this species migrates to their breeding pools and can be found abroad at night.
TAXONOMY:
Allozyme data (Shaffer, 1984) appears to confirm the original morphological description of this as a distinct species by Dixon (1963). Mitochondrial DNA sequence data indicates a very close relationship to several Mexican populations of Ambystoma velasci (Shaffer and McKnight 1996). Dixon (1963) mentions the similarities of this species to Ambystoma amblycephalum.
TYPE:
Described as Ambystoma flavipiperatum by Dixon (1963). Holotype: TCWC 12779. Type locality: “One mile north of Santa Cruz, Jalisco, Mexico, 4,900 ft altitude”.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Although I have not seen this species, I have visited the region around Tapalpa, Jalisco from which it was described. I hope to view this species during breeding migrations in the near future.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List Status for Ambystoma flavipiperatum is currently listed as “Data Deficient” due to our lack of knowledge regarding the distribution of this species, and the fact that no historical sites have been re-surveyed for local declines. This species is probably not declining in general, and is capable of inhabiting human-altered environs. Of all the Plateau Endemic species of Ambystoma, A. flavipiperatum is probably in the least danger of wide-scale decline.
REFERENCES:
Dixon, J.R. 1963. A New Species of Salamander of the Genus Ambystoma from Jalisco, Mexico. Copeia, 1963:99-101.
Shaffer, H.B. 1984. Evolution in a Paedomorphic Lineage. I. An Electrophoretic Analysis of the Mexican Ambystomatid Salamanders. Evolution, 38:1194-1206.