The Cerro Pando salamander (Bolitoglossa compacta) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is a medium-sized species for its genus, with females reaching a snout–vent length of 68.5–74.2 mm (2.7–2.9 in) and males reaching 53.4 mm (2.1 in). They are mostly dark black in color, with a few pale orange or yellow splotches on the upper sides, and have slightly webbed feet. It is found in the moist montane rainforests of the Costa Rica-Panama border region. It is classified as being endangered by the IUCN due its limited range and ongoing habitat degradation.
| Cerro Pando salamander | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Plethodontidae |
| Genus: | Bolitoglossa |
| Species: | B. compacta |
| Binomial name | |
| Bolitoglossa compacta | |
Taxonomy
editBolitoglossa compacta was formally described in 1973 based on an adult female specimen collected from Cerro Pando, a mountain in the Bocas del Toro province of Panama.[2] It has the English common names Cerro Pando salamander and Cerro Pando mushroomtongue salamander.[3]
The salamander is in the subgenus Eladinea and part of the Bolitoglossa adspersa species group.[3]
Description
editThe salamander is a robustly-built and medium-sized species for its genus, with female Bolitoglossa compacta reaching a snout–vent length of 68.5–74.2 mm (2.7–2.9 in) and males measuring 53.4 mm (2.1 in) long. They have medium-sized tails and slightly webbed feet. It is mostly dark black in color, except for a few pale orange or yellow splotches on the upper sides which are sometimes connected to make two ill-defined lines or a band across the back.[2]
Distribution and habitat
editConservation
editBolitoglossa compacta is classified as being endangered by the IUCN due its limited range and ongoing habitat degradation. The species' range is threatened by logging and development. The species' habitat enjoys strong protection in Costa Rica and it is common in Talamanca in that country, but enforcement is poor in Panamanian protected areas. It does not seem to adjust well to changes in its habitat. Salamander chytrid fungus, a pathogen that has devastated European salamander populations post its 2010 introduction to that continent, has not yet spread to the Americas, but still presents a future threat to the species if it ever spreads to Panama or Costa Rica.[1]
References
edit- 1 2 3 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group.; NatureServe (2020). "Bolitoglossa compacta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020 e.T59148A130991255. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T59148A130991255.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- 1 2 Wake, David B.; Brame, Arden H.; Duellman, William E. (1973-06-30). "New species of salamanders, genus Bolitoglossa, from Panama". Contributions in science. 248: 1–19. doi:10.5962/p.241231. ISSN 0459-8113.
- 1 2 Frost, Darrel R. (2026). "Bolitoglossa compacta Wake, Brame, and Duellman, 1973". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.2. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
- ↑ Lips, K. R. (1993). "Geographic distribution: Bolitoglossa compacta". Herpetological Review. 24 (3): 107.