Bolitoglossa nussbaumi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bolitoglossa nussbaumi |
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The Bolitoglossa nussbaumi is a special kind of salamander. It's known as a lungless salamander because it doesn't have lungs! Instead, it breathes through its skin. This amazing creature is found only in Guatemala.
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Meet the Nussbaum's Salamander
This salamander was first described in 2010. It was named Bolitoglossa nussbaumi to honor a scientist named Ronald A. Nussbaum.
What Does It Look Like?
The Nussbaum's salamander is quite small. It's usually about 50 millimeters long. That's about the length of a paperclip! Its body is dark brown. Some of these salamanders even have darker brown stripes.
One way to tell this salamander apart from others in its group is by its toes. Its toes are more separate and less webbed. This helps scientists identify it.
Where Does It Live?
This salamander has only been found in one specific place. That place is the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes mountains in Guatemala. Scientists believe it lives only in this area. They have searched in other similar places nearby, but they haven't found any Bolitoglossa nussbaumi there.
These salamanders like to live in dry, forested areas. They have been found living inside or under rotting wood. This wood provides them with shelter and moisture.
Why Is It So Rare?
The first time scientists collected these salamanders was in 1998. Even though people have looked for them many times since then, no one has seen a Bolitoglossa nussbaumi again.
Because of this, experts believe it might be extinct. In 2020, a group called the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) listed it as Critically Endangered. This means it's at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
Threats to Its Survival
Scientists think several things might be threatening this salamander. These include:
- Diseases: New diseases can spread quickly and harm salamander populations.
- Habitat Loss: When forests are cut down, the salamander loses its home.
- Climate Change: Changes in weather patterns can make its habitat too hot or too dry.
Protecting places like the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes is very important. It helps protect unique animals like the Nussbaum's salamander.
