Ambystoma lermaense
LAGO DE LERMA SALAMANDER
Ambystoma lermaense - Taylor 1940
IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
HABITAT:
This species is known from the wetlands surrounding Lago de Lerma and associated with the Río Lerma, south of Ciudad Toluca. It may also inhabit the canal systems within the region, but this is not yet verified.
NATURAL HISTORY:
Very little in known of the habits of this species.
TAXONOMY:
This species is closely related to (if not conspecific with) Ambystoma granulosum and Ambystoma rivulare; these three species represent a tight group within the Genus Ambystoma.
TYPE:
Described as Ambystoma lermaensis by Taylor (1940). Holotype: FMNH 100029. Type locality: “Lake Lerma, east of Toluca, México”, Mexico.
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have no experience with this species, having never been within its range.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List Status for Ambystoma lermaense is currently listed as “Critically Endangered” due to the fact that this species is known from only a few, probably declining populations and the continued degradation of the habitat within its small natural range. This species is considered extinct at its type locality, Lago de Lerma; it may persist in some portions of the Río Lerma, the canals associated with the wetland, and in the vicinity of Almolya. A. lermaense is afforded Special Protection status by the Mexican Government, but it does not occur in any protected areas.
REFERENCES:
Aguilar-Miguel, X., Casas-Andreu, G. and Pineda-Arredondo, E. 2002. Ambystoma lermaense (Lake Lerma salamander). Reproduction and Development. Herpetological Review, 33(3):197.