LEORA’S STREAM SALAMANDER
Ambystoma leorae – Taylor 1943
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Ambystoma leorae is known only from the high mountains in the vicinity of the town of RÃo FrÃo, on the México/Puebla border. The elevational distribution of this species is approximately 3,000m.
HABITAT:
This species inhabits high-elevation, humid pine forests. It is found within or immediately adjacent to streams within forest with an existing canopy.
NATURAL HISTORY:
Little is known regarding the habits of this species, but both adults and larvae are found in small forest streams. Paedomorphic specimens are known but what percentage of the population they represent is unknown.
TAXONOMY:
This is a distinct species of Ambystoma, both morphologically and genetically.
TYPE:
Described as Rhyacosiredon leorae by Taylor (1943). Holotype: FMNH 100041. Type locality: “mountain stream near RÃo FrÃo, México, either in the state of Puebla or México (Balsas River drainage system)”, Mexico.
PERSONAL NOTES:
In June, 2006 a friend and I looked for this species in RÃo FrÃo to no avail. Not only could we not find any streams, but the streambeds we found were dry and filled to the brim with trash and human waste. This is one of the most disturbed sites I have seen in my travels throughout Mexico.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List Status for Ambystoma leorae is currently listed as “Critically Endangered” due to its highly fragmented distribution, local population decline and extinction, and the continued degradation and desiccation of the streams within its small natural range. A. leorae is afforded Special Protection status by the Mexican Government and it occurs within the Parque Nacional RÃo FrÃo, but this area is severely disturbed (see Personal Notes above) and this species has not been seen at its type locality in over 30 years. As of 1983 it still ocurred at two sites 9 and 15 kilometers northeast of RÃo FrÃo, but no subsequent surveys have been executed to determine the status of these populations.
REFERENCES:
Reilly, S.M. and Brandon, R.A. 1994. Partial Paedomorphosis in the Mexican Stream Salamanders and the Taxonomic Status of the Genus Rhyacosiredon. Copeia, 1994:656-662.
Shaffer, H.B. 1984. Evolution in a Paedomorphic Lineage. I. An Electrophoretic Analysis of the Mexican Ambystomatid Salamanders. Evolution, 38:1194-1206.