Taxonomic notes: The species was previously included in the genus Rhyacosiredon. Based on unpublished allozyme and mtDNA sequence data, it is a well-defined taxon distinct from Ambystoma (Rhyacosiredon) altimirani (H.B. Shaffer pers. comm.).

This species is known only from around Río Frio town, in the State of Mexico close to the borderline with Puebla, in central Mexico, at around 3,000m asl. For over 30 years there were no records until it was found again in three sites to the north-east of Río Frío in 1983. It has been recorded within its range in field surveys conducted since 2004, within the Parque Nacional Izta-Popo (Monroy-Vilchis, et al. 2014).
 

FORO:
Is a micro-endemic mole salamander from Sierra Nevada, Central Mexico. The only known remaining population is located in two small rivers of approximately 1 km (Monroy-Vilchis O, Domínguez-Vega H, Zarco-González M, Sunny A (2014) Distribution of an endemic stream river salamander (Caudata: Ambystoma leorae) notes, natural history, habitat and threats. Herpetozoa In press. doi: 10.1007/s10592-013-0520-9)

Formerly relatively common, its population diminished drastically because of heavy degradation of its habitat. Nevertheless, it is still known to occur at low levels (compared with historical records) within its range.

This species requires the presence of shallow water in streams and humid pine forest areas for breeding; one breeding site is in a stream next to a major road. It metamorphoses, but the adults stay in the water. This species was recorded in small pools with sandy, muddy or rocky bottoms (0.033 - 0.47 m depth and 1.35 - 3.75 m width), with slow stream (0.3-0.4m/s), and with water temperature that ranged form 12 to 18.5° C. Outside the rivers the vegetation was mainly small alpine grassland (Muhlenbergia sp.) surrounded by Pinnus hartwegii and Abies religiosa forests; the eggs were distributed in clutches, and the clutches were attached to aquatic vegetation and inside caves (Sunny et al. 2014).

FORO:
In the Iztaccihuatl-Popocatepetl National Park, this species was recorded in small pools with sandy, muddy or rocky bottoms (0.033 - 0.47 m depth and 1.35 - 3.75 m width), with slow stream (0.3-0.4m/s), and with water temperature that ranged form 12 to 18.5° C. Outside the rivers the vegetation was mainly small alpine grassland (Muhlenbergia sp.) surrounded by Pinnus hartwegii and Abies religiosa forests.

The eggs were distributed in clutches, and the clutches were attached to aquatic vegetation and inside caves.

Sunny, A., O. Monroy-Vilchis, C. Reyna-Valencia, and M.M. Zarco-González. 2014. Microhabitat types promote the genetic structure of a micro-endemic and critically endangered mole salamander (Ambystoma leorae) of Central Mexico. PLoS ONE 9(7): e103595. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0103595

This species was formally consumed locally both as food and for its medicinal properties, though it is unlikely to still be the case.

The pollution and desiccation of the breeding streams in the vicinity of Río Frio town, as well as the clearance of pine forests (for grazing and other economic activities), are the major threats to this species. It is probably caught locally for food.

• 8.1.1 Unspecified species
• 5.3.5 Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded
• 1.1 Housing & urban areas
• 1.3 Tourism & recreation areas
• 9.2.3 Type Unknown/Unrecorded
• 9.1.3 Type Unknown/Unrecorded
• 2.3.2 Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming
• 6.1 Recreational activities
• 7.1.3 Trend Unknown/Unrecorded

It occurs in the Parque Nacional Río Frio, but there is huge recreational disturbance in this protected area, including forest clearance, and Parque Nacional Izta-Popo. Forest and stream restoration, and the protection of key sites around Río Frio, are the key priorities. Improved management of the hydric resource, including reducing the levels of pollutions, is an urgent priority. Monitoring of the population to follow population trends is strongly advised. Captive breeding is very difficult for coldwater-adapted Ambystoma species, although it is possible, and should be considered. This species is protected under the category Pr (Special protection) by the Government of Mexico.

FORO: do not include the modelling.

Based upon species´ distribution model, suitable habitat for this species has 67,6% of remnant distributional range of natural vegetation cover in Mexico (equivalent to 638,271 ha), but is just represented in 30,7% in protected areas (23% governmental PA; 7% 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).

• 2.2 Invasive/problematic species control
• 2.1 Site/area management
• 1.2 Resource & habitat protection
• 2.3 Habitat & natural process restoration
• 3.4.1 Captive breeding/artificial propagation

Listed as Critically Endangered because its population has declined by more than 80% and the pressures affecting it are projected to continue into the future. It is known from a single locality, with an Extent of Occurrence is less than 100 km2 and its Area Of Occupancy is less than 10km2, all individuals are in a single sub-population, and there is continuing decline in the number of mature individuals and in the extent and quality of its habitat around Rio Frio.

• 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.