Taxonomic notes: This form might be a complex of more than one species consisting of two taxa from the northern and southern parts of the range (Shaffer 1983; Shaffer and McKnight 1996).

This species occurs in the Sierra Madre Occidental from northeastern Sonora to the south in western Chihuahua, east Sinaloa to Durango and Zacatecas, and south to Jalisco, Mexico, at 1,675-3,100m asl.


FORO:
22 February 2014 two larvae were founded in few minutes of search. Also, 4 egg masses were seen in a stream of Santa Teresa, Del Nayar Municipaity, Nayarit. 2085 m elev. (Víctor Hugo Luja)

This species is often common throughout its range.

This species occurs only at high elevations in pine and pine-oak forest with slow-flowing, shallow streams. It occurs in both streams (its presumed natural habitat) and artificial ponds for livestock (in which it can reach very high larval densities). The species is variable with respect to metamorphosis; it can breed as a metamorph or as a paedomorph. The adults live in farmland, ranch land, and forest.

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Introduced predatory fishes are a problem. Expansion of agriculture might pose a threat to this species. However, the species does fine in cattle areas, at least as long as breeding habitat is available. Overall, this species is probably not seriously threatened.

FORO:
In Nayarit's Sierra Madre Occidental, tourism has become a relevant activity. Tourists go to the mountain arroyos were the salamander live. Litter and chemicals from sunblocks and other substances will become in a problem. (Víctor Hugo Luja)

• 8.1.1 Unspecified species
• 2.1.2 Small-holder farming

It occurs in a few protected areas. Improved habitat protection is needed throughout its range. This species is protected under the category Pr (Special protection) by the Government of Mexico.
FORO:
Based upon species´ distribution model, suitable habitat for this species has 84% of remnant distributional range of natural vegetation cover in Mexico (equivalent to 11,094,720 ha), but is just represented in 7,36% in protected areas (6,47% 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)

Environmental education with local (indigenous) people is urgent. (Víctor Hugo Luja)

• 1.1 Site/area protection
• 1.2 Resource & habitat protection
• 2.1 Site/area management
• 2.3 Habitat & natural process restoration
• 5.4.2 National level

Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

• Anderson, J.D. 1978. Abystoma rosaceum. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles: 1-2.
• Anderson, J.D. 1978. Ambystoma rosaceum Taylor. Tarahumara salamander. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles: 1-2.
• Anderson, J.D. and Webb, R.G. 1978. Life history aspects of the Mexican salamander Ambystoma rosaceum (Amphibia, Urodela, Ambystomatidae). Journal of Herpetology: 89-93.
• Collins, J.P. 1979. Sexually mature larvae of the salamanders Ambystoma rosaceum and A. tigrinum velasci from Chihuahua, Mexico: taxonomic and ecologic notes. Journal of Herpetology: 351-354.
• Shaffer, H.B. 1983. Biosystematics of Ambystoma rosaceum and A. tigrinum in northwestern Mexico. Copeia: 67-78.
• 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 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.
• Webb, R.G. 2004. Observations on tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum complex, Family Ambystomatidae) in Mexico with description of a new species. Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society: 122-143.