Plateau tiger salamander

The plateau tiger salamander exhibits facultative paedomorphosis.^[1] The adult coloration is olive green across the backs with dark spots, and white or cream across the underside of the abdomen.^[2] This species has external gills similar to those on other aquatic salamander species.^[2] However, this salamander can undergo metamorphosis again in adulthood, via a complex genetic mechanism in response to its environment.^[3] During this change, the salamander shrinks, loses its external gills and the legs elongate.^[3]

The plateau tiger salamander is typically considered endemic to Mexico,^[4] although its range might extend to the United States.^[1] They have a wide geographic distribution, ranging from Chihuahua in the north, to Durango in the south, and to Jalisco in the west.^[5] Its natural habitat is grassland, including sparse forest and semiarid grassland. Breeding takes place in a range of aquatic habitats: deep volcanic lakes, shallow vernal pools, artificial cattle ponds, and intermittent, fish-free stream pools. In the highlands of central Mexico, the plateau tiger salamander inhabits ponds and small streams in tropical deciduous forests or in pine oak forests.^[5]

Ambystoma velasci is locally threatened by habitat loss due to urbanization, forest clearance, and water extraction, and also by pollution and the introduction of fish and frogs (Lithobates catesbeianus).^[1] Overall the main threat to the species is loss and destruction of continuous habitats via human activity. The main threats being logging, and human caused forest fires.^[5] It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN on the IUCN Red List, however the plateau tiger salamander is under a special protection category under Mexican law.^[5] Out of mammalian, avian, and herpetofauna species, herpetofauna receive the least attention in conservation studies.^[6]