Crater salamander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crater salamander |
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The crater salamander (its scientific name is Bolitoglossa marmorea) is a special type of salamander. It's also called the marbled crater salamander. These amazing creatures belong to a family called Plethodontidae. You can only find them in Costa Rica and Panama. They live in cool, wet mountain forests high up. Sadly, they don't have much space to live, and their homes are shrinking. This makes them an endangered species.
What Does It Look Like?
The crater salamander is a medium-sized salamander. Adult salamanders are usually about 128 to 134 millimeters long. That's about the length of a large smartphone! Their bodies are a purplish-brown color. They have small yellow spots and tiny flecks all over them. The tail of this salamander is quite long. It makes up almost half of its total body length.
Where Does It Live?
Crater salamanders live in humid mountain forests. They are nocturnal, which means they are active at night. During the day, they sleep hidden under rocks. When night comes, they wake up. You can find them on mossy tree trunks and branches.
They live on the lower and middle slopes of the southern Cordillera de Talamanca mountain range. This area is found in eastern Costa Rica and western Panama.
Protecting the Crater Salamander
The crater salamander is an endangered species. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. But there's good news! This salamander lives in two protected areas. One is Parque Nacional Volcán Barú in Panama. The other is La Amistad International Park. This park is in both Panama and Costa Rica.
Even though they are known to be common in these areas, their numbers are going down. Scientists don't know exactly how many there are now. More studies are needed to help protect these unique creatures.
See also
In Spanish: Bolitoglossa marmorea para niños
