Taxonomic notes: Section empty

This species occurs in isolated populations to the west and south of the valley of Mexico, in the states of Morelos and Mexico. The known populations include Lagunas de Zempoala and the Chichinautzin corridor, although it has also been found in some additional sites. Its altitudinal range is 2,700-3,200m asl. Its known EOO is estimated to be less than 1500 km2. Former reports of the species in Desierto de los Leones and Ajusco National Parks are in error.

The species was formerly common, with larvae present in most small streams within its range. In 2004 it was reported already as greatly reduced, and this trend has continued the past ten years.

The species lives and breeds in small, permanent streams flowing through high-elevation pine or pine-oak woodland forests. It has also been found in streams in cleared pastures. Although metamorphosis is complete, in the wild some adults as well as larvae remain in the stream year-round.

It was formerly consumed locally, but apparently this tradition has changed as the flavour of the salamanders has changed due to the conditions in the area (X. Aguilar, pers. comm)

The forest and stream habitat in the vicinity of Mexico City where the species lives has been severely altered, leading to greatly degraded habitat. Illegal logging in national parks (Lagunas de Zempoala), very heavy recreational tourism, stream pollution and sedimentation, and stream diversion have all had negative impacts. All these trends reported in 2004 have continued, and some lagoons where it was found have dried out or are in the process of drying out. Introduced predatory fishes (trout and others) have eliminated the species from many streams, and local consumption for food may have been an issue in the past but appears not to be the case anymore (X. Aguilar, pers. comm).

• 5.3.5 Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded
• 5.1.1 Intentional use (species is the target)
• 1.1 Housing & urban areas
• 8.1.1 Unspecified species
• 3.2 Mining & quarrying
• 1.3 Tourism & recreation areas
• 6.1 Recreational activities
• 9.3.2 Soil erosion, sedimentation
• 9.1.3 Type Unknown/Unrecorded

This species occurs, or used to occur, in two national parks: Lagunas de Zempoala and Chichinautzin Corridor. There is an urgent need for more effective conservation of the forest and streams of this species, including the control of introduced predatory fishes, and for new field surveys to assess declines that may have occurred in the last 15 years. Implementation of the protected area management plan is a priority. Improved management of the hydric resources is also needed, including pollution clean up and control of invasive species. A tighter control of tourism activities is another priority, as these seem to have a large impact in the area where this species occurs. There are plans to build a road in the neighbourhood, and it is thus important to ensure that a buffer area exists between the road and the remaining habitat suitable for this salamander. This species is protected by Mexican law under the "Special Protection" category (Pr).

Based upon species´ distribution model, suitable habitat for this species has 45% of remnant distributional range of natural vegetation cover in Mexico (equivalent to 273,420 ha - NOTA: Checar con Nicolás que distribución usó), but is just represented in 55% in protected areas (54% governmental PA; 1% social private efforts). Ochoa-Ochoa, L. Urbina-Cardona, J.N., Flores-Villela, O., Vázquez, L-B and Bezaury-Creel, J. 2009. The Effects of Governmental Protected Areas and Social Initiatives for Land Protection on the Conservation of Mexican Amphibians. PLoS ONE: 4 (9): e6878 (Nicolás Urbina)

• 3.2 Species recovery
• 1.1 Site/area protection
• 4.1 Formal education
• 2.3 Habitat & natural process restoration
• 2.1 Site/area management
• 3.4.1 Captive breeding/artificial propagation
• 4.3 Awareness & communications

Listed as Endangered because the serious population declines reported in 2004 have continued, on the order of 50% and are projected to continue into the near future. The habitat degradation has also continued since 2004 on similar trends.

• Reilly, S.M. and Brandon, R.A. 1994. Partial paedomorphosis in the Mexican stream salamanders and the taxonomic status of the genus Rhyacosiredon. Copeia: 656-662.
• Shaffer, H.B. 1984. Evolution in a paedomorphic lineage. I. An electrophoretic analysis of the Mexican ambystomatid salamanders. Evolution: 1194-1206.
• Shaffer, H.B. 1984. Evolution in a paedomorphic lineage. II. Allometry and form in the Mexican ambystomatid salamanders. Evolution: 1207-1218.
• Shaffer, H.B. and Lauder, G.V. 1985. Patterns of variation in aquatic ambystomatid salamanders: kinematics of the feeding mechanism. Evolution: 83-92.
• Shaffer, H.B. and McKnight, M.L. 1996. The polytypic species revisited: genetic differentiation and molecular phylogenetics of the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) (Amphibia: Caudata) complex. Evolution: 417-433.
• Uribe-Peña, Z., Ramírez-Bautista, R. and Cuadernos, G.C.A. 2000. Anfibios y Reptiles de las Serranías del Distrito Federal, México. Instituto de Biología, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico.