Pseudoeurycea mystax facts for kids
The mustache false brook salamander (scientific name: Pseudoeurycea mystax) is a type of salamander. It belongs to the family Plethodontidae, which are lungless salamanders. This special salamander lives only in Mexico, specifically in a small area called the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca mountains near Ayutla, Oaxaca.
It's called the 'mustache false brook salamander' because the male salamanders have small white bumps on their lips. These bumps look a bit like a mustache when you see them from the front!
Quick facts for kids Pseudoeurycea mystax |
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| P. mystax in Oaxaca, Mexico | |
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What Does It Look Like?
Scientists first described this salamander from two examples. The male was about 4.75 cm long from its nose to the base of its tail. The female was a bit smaller, about 4.2 cm long.
Their tails are shorter than their bodies. The male's total length was around 8.5 cm, and the female's was about 6.9 cm. These salamanders have strong, but not very long, legs.
Their backs are gray with a hint of pink, especially on their noses. They also have tiny black dots scattered across their bodies. A cool feature is their tail, which has some big, noticeable white spots.
Where Does It Live and How Is It Doing?
The mustache false brook salamander lives in pine-oak and Arbutus forests. These forests are found at high places, around 2100 meters (about 6,900 feet) above sea level.
Because its legs are short and strong, scientists think this salamander mostly stays on the ground. It doesn't seem to be a good climber. Even though it lives in ravines, it doesn't seem to need to be very close to rivers.
This salamander can handle some changes to its home. Small groups can still survive in tiny pieces of forest that are left. However, its main problem is habitat loss. This happens because of farming, cutting down trees, and people building homes. Only small parts of its original forest home remain.
The mustache false brook salamander is quite rare. It was last officially seen in 1999. But local people sometimes report seeing salamanders that could be this species. They might also be another similar salamander called Pseudoeurycea cochranae.
