Mexico Herpetology

Neotenic Adult, 7,740′, Puebla, Mexico

Neotenic Adult, 7,740′, Puebla, Mexico

Juvenile, 7,740′, Puebla, Mexico

TAYLOR’S AXOLOTL
Ambystoma taylori - Brandon, Maruska & Rumph 1981

IDENTIFICATION:

DISTRIBUTION:
This species is endemic to Lago Alchichica, a mineral-rich crater lake at the edge of San Jose Alchichica, situated at an elevation of 7,740′ on the eastern edge of the Mexican Plateau in Puebla, Mexico.

HABITAT:
The habitat for Ambystoma taylori includes several trophic layers of Lago de Alchichica, from the warmer shallow waters several feet from shore to deeper, colder waters to at least 30 meters deep. Lago de Alchichica is located in the high desert to the west of Cerro Cofre de Perote.

Lago Alchichica, Puebla, Mexico - The Extent of this Species’ Range

Tufa (Microhabitat), Lago Alchichica, Puebla, Mexico

NATURAL HISTORY:
Ambystoma taylori is a paedomorphic species, meaning it lives its entire life underwater and retains the morphology of a larvae through sexual maturity. This species is probably active during the day, but moves into shallow waters at night to feed on snails, crayfish and other aquatic invertabrates. Lago de Alchichica is ringed by tufa outcrops from its shoreline to at least ten meters out in to the lake. This species is most easily observed on the deep-water edge of the tufa, normally within trenches or holes that offer shelter from the wind-driven wave action of the lake. In the very shallow lake-shore edge of the tufa I have only observed several foraging juvenile larvae. No fish inhabit Lago de Alchichica, thus this species is the largest aquatic inhabitant and top predator.

TAXONOMY:
Ambystoma subsalsum was described from Lago Alchichica by Taylor (1943). Brandon, Maruska and Rumph provided evidence that the type of subsalsum was not representitive of the neotenic population in the lake, but rather that of the nearbye plateau population of Ambystoma velasci. Taylor had indeed discovered A. taylori, but in his chosing to use a terrestrial animal for the Type, he described what now represents a large portion of the populations formerly thought to represent A. velasci.

TYPE:
Described as Ambystoma taylori by Brandon, Maruska & Rumph (1981). Holotype: FMNH 212392. Type locality: “Laguna Alchichica, Puebla, Mexico, ca. 24 km SW Perote.”

PERSONAL NOTES:
In June, 2005 I camped at Lago Alchichica in hopes of finding this species - and I was not upset. We spent nearly 4 hours observing this species along the edges of the Tufa outcrops near the lakeshore. Literature states that this species is found by diving deep into the lake, so at first we were unsure if we would be able to locate any. As it turns out, this species can be found in the shallows of the lake, between the shore and the inside edge of the Tufa but in this situation only several juvenile salamanders were found. On the deep-water edge of the Tufa, adult animals were seen. In a deep hole within a Tufa pile (bottom photo, see above), we regularly observed several large individuals throughout the course of the night. They would sit motionless for a time, sometimes suspended along the edge of the hole with only an arm touching the Tufa, then would casually crawl into the shadows. One was seen to feed on a unknown species of aquatic insect. The adult salamanders seemed far more wary than the juveniles, and it took a considerable amount of time to capture a small adult for photos. On a related note, my travel companion discovered (and was quite afraid of) a large algae monster within the lake’s shallows - instead of apprehending the specimen for study she yelped like a hit dog and ran away like a girl. Thanks for the laugh - you know who you are!

CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List Status for Ambystoma taylori is currently listed as “Critically Endangered” due to the entire population occuring in a single lake and continued degradation of its habitat.

REFERENCES:
Brandon, R.A., Maruska, E.J. and Rumph, W.T. 1982. A New Species of Neotenic Ambystoma (Amphibia, Caudata) Endemic to Laguna Alchichica, Puebla, Mexico. Bulletin Southern California Academy of Sciences. 80(3):112-125.