The Miquihuana splayfoot salamander (
Chiropterotriton miquihuanus) in Miquihuana, Tamaulipas, Mexico (July 5, 2004).
Chiropterotriton, also known as splayfoot salamanders or flat-footed salamanders, is a group of salamanders. They belong to the family Plethodontidae, which are lungless salamanders. This means they breathe through their skin and the lining of their mouths instead of lungs! All splayfoot salamanders live only in Mexico.
These salamanders are found across northern and eastern Mexico. They live in many different places, like cloud forests, pine and oak forests, and even caves. You might find them hiding in plants like bromeliads (which grow on trees), in cracks in rocks, or under things on the ground. Most splayfoot salamanders look quite similar, which can make it hard to tell them apart just by looking. But scientists use special methods, like looking at their DNA, to discover new species.
Meet the Splayfoot Salamanders
As of early 2019, there are 18 known species in the Chiropterotriton group. Here are some of them:
| Scientific Name |
Common Name |
| Chiropterotriton arboreus |
Arboreal splayfoot salamander |
| Chiropterotriton aureus |
Atzalan golden salamander |
| Chiropterotriton chico |
El Chico salamander |
| Chiropterotriton chiropterus |
Common splayfoot salamander |
| Chiropterotriton chondrostega |
Gristle-headed splayfoot salamander |
| Chiropterotriton cieloensis |
El Cielo salamander |
| Chiropterotriton cracens |
Graceful splayfoot salamander |
| Chiropterotriton dimidiatus |
Dwarf splayfoot salamander |
| Chiropterotriton infernalis |
Sistema Purificación salamander |
| Chiropterotriton lavae |
Pygmy splayfoot salamander |
| Chiropterotriton magnipes |
Bigfoot splayfoot salamander |
| Chiropterotriton miquihuanus |
Miquihuana splayfoot salamander |
| Chiropterotriton mosaueri |
Cave splayfoot salamander |
| Chiropterotriton multidentatus |
Toothy splayfoot salamander |
| Chiropterotriton nubilus |
Cloud forest salamander from Cofre de Perote |
| Chiropterotriton orculus |
Chignahuapan splayfoot salamander |
| Chiropterotriton priscus |
Primeval splayfoot salamander |
| Chiropterotriton terrestris |
Terrestrial splayfoot salamander |
