Savage's salamander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Savage's salamander |
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Savage's salamander is a special type of salamander. Its scientific name is Bolitoglossa savagei. People also call it Savage's mushroomtongue salamander. It belongs to a group of salamanders called Plethodontidae. This salamander only lives in one specific place. That place is the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains in northern Colombia. This area is in the Magdalena Department.
Sometimes, people thought this salamander lived in Venezuela too. But scientists later found that those salamanders were a different species. They were likely Bolitoglossa guaramacalensis. This salamander is named after Jay M. Savage. He was an American scientist who studied reptiles and amphibians.
What Does It Look Like?
Male Savage's salamanders are usually about 36 to 52 millimeters long. This measurement is from their snout (nose) to their vent (where waste leaves the body). Female salamanders are a bit larger. They measure about 38 to 55 millimeters long.
Their tail can be a little shorter or longer than their body. Their hands and feet have some webbing. This means the skin between their toes is partly connected. Their color can change a lot. Some are light brown, and others are dark brown. They might have a clear stripe down their back. Some have spots, while others are just one solid color.
Where It Lives and How We Protect It
Savage's salamanders live in montane forests. These are forests found in mountains. They live at heights between 1,000 and 2,140 meters above sea level.
This salamander mostly lives inside plants called arboreal bromeliads. These plants grow on trees. They also lay their eggs and raise their young in bromeliads. Sometimes, they can be found in rotting logs or under decaying leaves. Another animal, a frog called Pristimantis tayrona, sometimes lives in the same bromeliads.
The biggest danger to Savage's salamander is Habitat loss. This happens when their forest homes are destroyed. People cut down trees, which is called deforestation. This removes the places where these salamanders live and find food. Protecting these forests helps keep the salamanders safe.
See also
In Spanish: Bolitoglossa savagei para niños
