Bolitoglossa psephena facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bolitoglossa psephena |
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| Bolitoglossa psephena is only known from near Chimaltenango, Guatemala |
The Bolitoglossa psephena is a special kind of salamander. It belongs to the Plethodontidae family, which means it is a lungless salamander. This means it breathes through its skin and the lining of its mouth, not with lungs!
This salamander lives only in Guatemala. It has only been found in one place, near Chimaltenango. This first discovery spot is called its "type locality." The name psephena comes from an old Greek word meaning "dark" or "hidden." This describes the salamander's dark color.
What Does This Salamander Look Like?
The first Bolitoglossa psephena ever studied was a female. She was about 72 mm (2.8 in) long from her snout (nose) to her vent (where waste leaves the body). Her tail was about 52 mm (2.0 in) long.
Her snout looks rounded when you view it from above. Her back is a uniform dark color. When photographed alive, her back was medium brown. She had faint, lighter brown spots on her sides. Both her fingers and toes are wide and blunt at the tips. Her fingers are not webbed. Her toes have webbing that goes almost to the very end of each toe.
Where Does It Live and How Is It Doing?
The first Bolitoglossa psephena was found in a wet mountain forest. This forest was about 2,500 m (8,200 ft) above sea level. That's pretty high up! The forest has many different trees. You can find pines, cypress, firs, oaks, alders, and laurels there.
In 2010, the forest in this area was still in good condition. As of late 2020, scientists had not fully checked on this species. This means we don't know if it is endangered or not. The infobox shows its status as "DD" (Data Deficient). This means there isn't enough information to know how many of these salamanders exist or if their numbers are going down. More research is needed to understand how to protect them.
See also
In Spanish: Bolitoglossa psephena para niños
