Nototriton brodiei facts for kids
Nototriton brodiei is a small type of salamander that lives in wet forests. It belongs to a group of salamanders called Plethodontidae. This special salamander is found only in certain parts of Guatemala and Honduras. It lives in places like the Sierra del Merendón and Sierra de Caral in Guatemala, and the Cusuco National Park in Honduras. The salamander was named brodiei to honor Edmund D. Brodie Jr., an American expert on reptiles and amphibians. People also call it the Cerro Pozo de Agua moss salamander.
Quick facts for kids Nototriton brodiei |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification |
What Does It Look Like?
Female Nototriton brodiei salamanders are quite small. They measure about 32–34.5 mm (1.26–1.36 in) from their snout (nose) to their vent (where waste leaves the body). Their tail is much longer than their body, making their total length up to 84 mm (3.3 in).
This salamander has a rounded snout and eyes that stick out a bit. Its head is only a little wider than its neck. It has small glands near its head called parotoid glands, but they are not very noticeable. Its legs are short and thin. Both its fingers and toes are partly webbed, like a duck's foot, and have special pads underneath.
The back of the salamander is usually a reddish-brown color, like mahogany or rust. It has dark brown patterns that look like "V" shapes. Its belly and underside are dark, either blackish or a dark purplish-brown, with small cream-colored spots. The tail has irregular black or dark brown marks on its sides and underneath. The colored part of its eye, called the iris, is a bronze color.
Where It Lives and How We Protect It
The Nototriton brodiei salamander lives in special kinds of forests. These are old, wet, subtropical forests found at high places, between 760–1,590 m (2,490–5,220 ft) above sea level. This means they live high up in the mountains.
Scientists have found these salamanders active at night. They might be on low plants or on rocks near waterfalls. During the day, one salamander was found hiding under a pile of dead palm leaves.
This salamander seems to be very rare, as scientists have only found fewer than ten of them. It might also be hard to spot in its natural home. Its home is in danger because people are cutting down too many trees (logging) and turning forest land into farms. Even in protected areas like the Cusuco National Park, trees are being cut down illegally. Also, chemicals used in farming can harm the salamanders and their environment. Protecting these forests is very important to help the Nototriton brodiei survive.
See also
In Spanish: Nototriton brodiei para niños
