LAKE PÁTZCUARO SALAMANDER
Affected species: Ambystoma dumerilii (Dugès, 1870)
Location: Lake Pátzcuaro, Mexico
Just 15% of the most extraordinary amphibians threatened with extinction are receiving active conservation attention. With 41% of the amphibian species at risk of extinction, amphibians are the most threatened large group of vertebrates worldwide. The Lake Pátzcuaro Salamander (Ambystoma dumerilii) is unique in many ways. Like its relative, the axolotl, this salamander lives in neoteny, which means it lives its entire life, appearing as larvae. These salamanders never metamorphose and, therefore, never go ashore to live on land.
The Lake Pátzcuaro Salamander was over-harvested from the wild for human consumption and medical purposes.
This salamander only occurs in Lake Pátzcuaro in northwestern Michoacan, Mexico at an elevation of 1920 meters above sea level. Because of water pollution and invasive fish species, the future of this highly specialized species is very uncertain. Turtle Island has the only Lake Pátzcuaro Salamanders living outside Mexico. Here they have reproduced, are maturing and can thus contribute to the survival of the species.
INFOS ABOUT THE LAKE PÁTZCUARO SALAMANDER
The Lake Pátzcuaro Salamander is a member of the genus Ambystoma. In the wild, ambystomatids generally exhibit both aquatic neotenic larval and terrestrial metamorphosed stages. Neotenic larvae are aquatic and permanently juvenile forms with external, feathery gills. Terrestrial metamorphosed are ground dwelling, fully developed adult forms with reduced gills. A. dumerilii is one of the few (probably only three to four species) obligatory neotenic species, which remain in water throughout their life. This means that this species is in a permanent larval stage and is capable of reproduction as such. If dehydration or other threatening circumstances occur, this salamander cannot metamorphose and move onto land, as we see with other related species.
Did you know ...
Things you should know about this project:
Amphibians
Just 15% of the most extraordinary amphibians threatened with extinction are receiving active conservation attention. With 41% of the amphibian species at risk of extinction, amphibians are the most threatened large group of vertebrates worldwide.
Conservation Meassures
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists Ambystoma dumerilii as ” Critically Endangered.” This species is also listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), Appendix II, as one of the top 5 most endangered salamanders in the world!
OUR CONTRIBUTION
Turtle Island has the only Lake Pátzcuaro Salamanders living outside Mexico. Here they have reproduced, are maturing and can thus contribute to the survival of the species.
Currently, Turtle Island is breeding two unrelated breeding lines and will be able to distribute offspring to collaborating institutions very soon. With this conservation breeding, we hope to contribute to the continued existence of this remarkable and unique salamander. Our goal is to produce as many healthy salamanders as possible and re-introduce them into Lake Pátzcuaro’s natural habitat after the contamination and invasive species issues have been resolved.
Photos.
Insight into the project:
PROJECT-COORDINATES.
Lake Pátzcuaro,
Mexico