Species Data

Class: Amphibia

Order: Caudata

Family: Plethodontidae

Scientific Name: Bolitoglossa jacksoni

IUCN Red List status: Data Deficient

IUCN Species Range Map

 
 

Description

The Jackson’s Climbing Salamander, also known as the ‘golden wonder’ and Jackson’s Mushroomtongue Salamander, was first discovered in 1975.
It was feared to be extinct until ranger Tomas Ramos Leon from World Land Trust’s partner in Guatemala, FUNDAECO, discovered an individual in the vicinity of Yal Unim Yul Witz in 2017.

 
 

Behaviour

Due to such a small number of sightings of this elusive animal, little is yet known of its behaviour.

Jackson’s Climbing Salamander. Credit: Lindsay Renick Mayer
Yal Unin Yul Witz Reserve (San Isidro). Credit: FUNDAECO
 

Habitat

The Jackson’s Climbing Salamander is believed to be endemic to Guatemala and very localised, with all previous sightings occuring in the cloud forests of the Cuchumatanes mountain range.

 
 

Threats and Conservation

The remoteness of the Cuchumatanes mountain range has protected much of the forest where the Jackson’s climbing Salamander is found, but population growth and subsistence agriculture are driving deforestation in the region and more than 60 per cent of the montane tropical forest of northern Huehuetenango has disappeared within the past 30 years. Clearing forest for intensive coffee production is also a threat.

 
 

Protected by these WLT Projects

 
 

References

IUCN Red List