GRANULAR SALAMANDER
Ambystoma granulosum – Taylor 1944
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Ambystoma granulosum is known only from the vicinity of it’s type locality: just northwest of the city of Toluca, Mexico. The elevational range of this species lies around 3,000m.
HABITAT:
The Global Amphibian Assessment refers to this species’ habitat as grassland.
NATURAL HISTORY:
This is a terrestrial species that breeds in still waters such as stock ponds and marshy meadows. Little is known regarding this salamander’s natural history.
TAXONOMY:
This species is closely related to (if not conspecific with) Ambystoma lermaense and Ambystoma rivulare; these three species represent a tight group within the Genus Ambystoma.
TYPE:
Described as Ambystoma granulosum by Taylor (1944). Holotype: FMNH 100106. Type locality: “km. 74, about 12 miles northwest of Toluca, México, México”.
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have no experience with this species, having never been within its range.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List Status for Ambystoma granulosum is currently listed as “Critically Endangered” due to the fact that this species is known from a single, probably declining population and the continued degradation of the habitat within its small natural range. A. granulosum is afforded Special Protection status by the Mexican Government, but it does not occur in any protected areas.
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