Hope in the dark: discovery of a population related to the presumably extinct micro-endemic Blunt-headed Salamander (Ambystoma amblycephalum).

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_ABC9AE3BA298
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
Hope in the dark: discovery of a population related to the presumably extinct micro-endemic Blunt-headed Salamander (Ambystoma amblycephalum).
Journal
Neotropical Biodiversity
Author(s)
Hernandez Axel, Dufresnes Christophe, Raffaëlli Jean, Jelsch Emmanuel, Dubey Sylvain, Santiago-Pérez Ana Luisa, Rosas-Espinoza Verónica Carolina, Nuñez Pablo Berea
ISSN
2376-6808
Publication state
Published
Issued date
31/12/2022
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
8
Number
1
Pages
35-44
Language
english
Abstract
We report on the discovery of a population related to the Blunt-headed Salamander (Ambystoma amblycephalum), a micro-endemic axolotl from Mexico scientifically confirmed only once since its original description in 1940, and now presumably extinct. In 2018, paedomorphic and metamorphosed adults, as well as clutches and larvae, were found in a cattle pond at Nahuatzen, Michoacán state, Mexico, ~60 km away from the type locality (Tacícuaro). Morphometric comparisons suggested high similarity with the type series of A. amblycephalum, while mitochondrial DNA barcoding (16S and control region) revealed close (but imperfect) matching to a reference sequence. We gathered data on life history and ecology of this population, which could be the only extant relic of A. amblycephalum. Its highly limited distribution and presumably low population density are hallmarks for a high risk of extinction, and alarms on the critical situation of many micro-endemic salamanders of Mexico, hence calling for immediate conservation actions.
Keywords
Ecology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Global and Planetary Change
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
12/01/2022 20:59
Last modification date
10/07/2023 10:42
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