Bolitoglossa oresbia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bolitoglossa oresbia |
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Bolitoglossa oresbia is a special type of salamander that belongs to the family Plethodontidae. This salamander is found only in Honduras, which means it is endemic to that country. It lives on the top of a mountain called Cerro El Zarciadero and also on the southwest side of the nearby Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park.
What Does It Look Like?
This salamander is quite small. The first two adult females ever found were about 51 and 55 mm (2.0 and 2.2 in) long from their snout (nose) to their vent (a small opening near the tail). Their total length, including the tail, was about 92 and 104 mm (3.6 and 4.1 in). A younger female was even smaller, at 34 mm (1.3 in) from snout to vent.
The salamander's snout looks flat when you view it from above, and rounded from the side. Its tail is quite narrow where it joins the body. The legs are thin and long, and its toes have some webbing between them.
The top part of its body is usually grayish-brown or brownish-olive. It has small, hard-to-see, yellowish spots that are not perfectly shaped. The underside of its body is either a uniform yellowish color or brownish-olive with yellowish patches.
Where It Lives and How We Protect It
Bolitoglossa oresbia lives in cloud forests. These are special forests found high up in mountains, usually between 1,560–1,880 m (5,120–6,170 ft) above sea level. These forests often have a lot of mist or clouds, which keeps them very moist.
Scientists have found these salamanders in different places within the cloud forest. Some were found inside bromeliad plants that hold water, high up in trees. Others were seen moving around on plants at night. Some were even found inside a rotten tree trunk, about 1 meter off the ground, during the day. They have also been found in damp leaf litter on the forest floor in the morning.
The main place where this salamander was first discovered is a very small patch of forest, less than one soccer field in size, on a mountain top. This small forest is completely surrounded by farm fields. Because of this, the salamander's home is shrinking, which is a big problem. Losing their habitat can make the area drier, which is bad for these salamanders that need moisture. Also, the use of chemicals to kill pests in the nearby farms is a possible danger to them.
Luckily, in 2008, more of these salamanders were found inside the Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park. This park is about 8 km (5.0 mi) away from where they were first found. Finding them in a protected park gives hope for their survival, as national parks help keep natural areas safe.
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