Thorius pennatulus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thorius pennatulus |
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Thorius pennatulus is a tiny type of salamander. It belongs to a group called Plethodontidae. This salamander is one of the smallest four-legged animals (called tetrapods) on Earth! Grown-up Thorius pennatulus are only about 15 to 21 millimeters long. That's less than an inch! You can only find this special salamander in the mountains of Veracruz, Mexico. It lives nowhere else in the world.
About This Tiny Salamander
This salamander is super small, growing up to 21 millimeters long. Its head is wide, and it has a pointy nose. It also has tiny nostrils and eyes that stick out a bit. Its tail and legs are quite long for its size. The salamander's hands and feet are thin. Its fingers and toes are short, and the longest ones are pointed. Most Thorius pennatulus are light brown. They have cool, darker patterns on their backs.
Where It Lives
You can find Thorius pennatulus in a few places. These spots are on the Gulf side of the northern Sierra Madre de Oaxaca mountains. They live at heights between 1,000 and 1,500 meters. This salamander lives on the ground. During the day, it hides under rocks or in rotten logs. It also likes to hide among fallen leaves in banana farms. It lives in cloud forests and lower forests. You might also find it in damp coffee farms.
Life Cycle
The young of Thorius pennatulus grow inside their eggs. They do not have a larval stage. This means they hatch looking like tiny versions of the adults. They do not go through a tadpole-like stage in water.
Why It Needs Help
Thorius pennatulus is listed as "Endangered" by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. It used to be very common in its small home area. But then, its numbers dropped a lot for unknown reasons. By the mid-1970s, it was hard to find. Its population has kept shrinking since then. More farming has started where it lives. However, there is still good habitat left. So, why it is declining is still a mystery. One salamander was seen in 2004, and another in 2006.
