At a glance
Essentials
- Size
- 16.08 to 35.43 mm in standard length. The range may vary with age, sex and population.
- Distribution
- Department of Zacapa, eastern Guatemala.
- Habitat
- Cloud forests between 1700 and 2200 m a.s.l.
- Conservation
- Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1).
Observation guide
What to look for
- 01
Reddish-brown dorsum with golden or beige spots and a grayish mottled ventral tail.
- 02
Standard length between 16.08 and 35.43 mm.
Lighting, age and viewing angle can hide features. If identification affects consumption, handling or conservation, consult specialist sources.
Ecology
Description and characteristics
Cryptotriton sierraminensis is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae, described by Vásquez-Almazán, Rovito, Good and Wake in 2009. It is characterized by a reddish-brown dorsum speckled with numerous golden or beige spots, while the ventral surface of the tail is grayish with pale mottling. Individual size varies between 16.08 and 35.43 mm in standard length, with the male holotype measuring 63.0 mm in total length. This species is endemic to the department of Zacapa, in eastern Guatemala, where it is found exclusively in the Sierra de las Minas. Its natural habitat consists of undisturbed cloud forests, located at an elevation ranging between 1700 and 2200 meters above sea level. The species faces threats from habitat loss.