Cortes salamander (Cryptotriton nasalis) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is found in the Sierra de Omoa in northwestern Honduras and Sierra de Caral in eastern Guatemala, close to the border with Honduras.[1][3][4] The vernacular name Cortes salamander refers to the Cortés Department[5] where the type locality is located,[3][6] whereas the alternative name Cortez' hidden salamander with the spelling "Cortez" and the apostrophe are errors.[5]
| Cortes salamander | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Plethodontidae |
| Genus: | Cryptotriton |
| Species: | C. nasalis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cryptotriton nasalis (Dunn, 1924)
| |
| Synonyms[3] | |
Taxonomy and systematics
editCryptotriton nasalis was described by Emmett Reid Dunn in 1924 as Oedipus nasalis.[2][3][6] Nototriton wakei, known only from the holotype[4] and named for David B. Wake,[5] is considered a junior synonym.[4]
Description
editCryptotriton nasalis are tiny emo salamanders. Males measure 24–32 mm (0.94–1.26 in) and adult females 28–35 mm (1.1–1.4 in) in snout–vent length (SVL). The tail is longer than the body in males (range 1.14–1.35 times the SVL) and many females (range 0.80–1.27 times the SVL). The head is moderately long and broad. The nostril openings are large and the eyes are protuberant. The limbs are slender and comparatively long. The fingers and the toes are partially webbed. The upper surfaces are dark brown with paler brown mottling behind the eyelids and along the middorsal line to the tail base. The upper surfaces of the limbs are paler than the body, whereas the tail is darker than the body.[6]
Habitat and conservation
editCryptotriton nasalis occurs in pre-montane and lower montane wet and cloud forests at elevations of 1,150–2,200 m (3,770–7,220 ft) above sea level. It tolerates some habitat modification. It is an arboreal salamander that lives in bromeliads. It is reasonably common in the Cusuco National Park in Honduras, whereas only one specimen is known from Guatemala,[1] despite research activity in the area. The Guatemalan location is near the Sierra Caral Amphibian Reserve.[4] It also occurs in the Cerro Azul de Copán National Park.[1] The species is threatened by the loss of its forest habitat caused by expanding subsistence agriculture and illegal logging. These threats also impact the Cusuco and Sierra Caral protected areas.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Cryptotriton nasalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T61545710A146929376. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T61545710A146929376.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ a b Dunn, Emmett Reid (1924). "New salamanders of the genus Oedipus with a synoptical key". Field Museum of Natural History Publication. Zoological Series. 12 (7): 95–100.
- ^ a b c d Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Cryptotriton nasalis (Dunn, 1924)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d McCranie, James R. & Rovito, Sean M. (2014). "New species of salamander (Caudata: Plethodontidae: Cryptotriton) from Quebrada Cataguana, Francisco Morazán, Honduras, with comments on the taxonomic status of Cryptotriton wakei". Zootaxa. 3795 (1): 61–70. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3795.1.6. PMID 24870458.
- ^ a b c Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael & Grayson, Michael (2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. pp. 47, 226. ISBN 978-1-907807-42-8.
- ^ a b c McCranie, James R. (2006). "Cryptotriton nasalis". Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 803: 1–4. hdl:2152/45508.