Pseudoeurycea firscheini
Pseudoeurycea firscheini | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Urodela |
Family: | Plethodontidae |
Genus: | Pseudoeurycea |
Species: | P. firscheini
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Binomial name | |
Pseudoeurycea firscheini |
Pseudoeurycea firscheini is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to the west-central Veracruz, Mexico,[3] and known from Acultzingo (its type locality) on the Puebla–Veracruz border eastward to the Sierra Zongolica.[1] It is also known as the Firschein's false brook salamander[1] or simply Firschein's salamander.[3] The specific name firscheini honors Mr. ,[2] an American biologist, geneticists, and anthropologist.[4] The authors acknowledge Firschein for his explorations on Volcan San Martin, said to "have done much toward stimulating interest in this region of Mexico".[2]
Description[]
Pseudoeurycea firscheini was described based on four specimens of unspecified sex, including the holotype measuring 47 mm (1.9 in) in snout–vent length and a juvenile measuring 23 mm (0.91 in) in snout–vent length and 47 mm (1.9 in) in total length. The adults have small, lichen-like light spots on the tail. The sides and the underparts of the body are almost black. The hind legs are relatively large. The fingers are less than half-webbed, whereas the slender toes are about one-third webbed.[2]
Habitat and conservation[]
Its natural habitats are pine-oak forests and lower cloud forests at elevations of 1,900–2,200 m (6,200–7,200 ft) above sea level.[1] The type series was collected in water-filled bromeliads growing on trees at heights of 2.1–6.1 m (7–20 ft) above ground,[2] and it appears to require the presence of abundant bromeliads growing on mature trees in its habitat.[1]
The dependence of Pseudoeurycea firscheini on large bromeliad-covered trees makes it susceptible to habitat loss caused by expanding agriculture and human settlements and by wood extraction. The species might be present in the , but this has yet to be confirmed. Mexican law protects it under the "Special Protection" category.[1]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e f IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2016). "Pseudoeurycea firscheini". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T59377A53981942. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T59377A53981942.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Shannon, Frederick A.; Werler, John E. (1955). "Report on a small collection of amphibians from Veracruz, with a description of a new species of Pseudoeurycea". Herpetologica. 11 (2): 81–85. JSTOR 3889965.
- ^ a b Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Pseudoeurycea firscheini Shannon and Werler, 1955". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 70. ISBN 978-1-907807-42-8.
- IUCN Red List endangered species
- Pseudoeurycea
- Endemic fauna of Mexico
- Amphibians of Mexico
- Amphibians described in 1955
- Taxa named by Frederick A. Shannon