| Doflein's salamander | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Caudata |
| Family: | Plethodontidae |
| Genus: | Bolitoglossa |
| Species: | B. dofleini |
| Binomial name | |
| Bolitoglossa dofleini | |
Doflein's salamander (Bolitoglossa dofleini) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is found in Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, plantations, and heavily degraded former forest. An example ecoregion of occurrence is the Belizean pine forests.
Geographical Range[]
- Range Description
- This species ranges from extreme northern Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, and Cayo District in southern Belize, to north-central Honduras. In Honduras it is known from Quebrada Grande in Copán Department, Sierra de Merendón west of San Pedro Sula, Cortés Department, and Portillo Grande in Yoro Department. It occurs from 50-1,450m asl, and probably occurs more widely within the general distribution than currently recorded.
- Countries occurrence
- Belize; Guatemala; Honduras
Threats[]
This species is potentially threated by the international pet trade, in which it features significantly, and since this species takes 10-12 years to mature such trade could easily be locally unsustainable. Chytrid infection has been recently reported for this species (J. Kolby, pers. comm. 2008). It has also recently been reported in animals that were imported into Belgium. However, the origin of this infection (whether from the wild, or from other captive animals) is not known.
Conservation action[]
n Honduras this species is found in the Cerro Azul National Park, Texiguat Wildlife Refuge, and at the edge of Parque Nacional Cusuco, and in Guatemala it occurs in Parque Nacional Laguna Lachuá and the Reserva de Manantiales Montañas del Mico. Given the potential threat of chytridiomycosis populations of this species should be monitored carefully.