Finca Chiblac Salamander (Bradytriton silus)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 0925434

The mission of this proposal is to conduct detailed surveys for IUCN Red Data List amphibians in the Cuchumatanes Mountains of Guatemala. Several amphibian species, including Critically Endangered species, are found only in these mountains. Most were discovered in the 1970s and have not been seen since. In January 2009, a small team of amphibian specialists from my museum and the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California rediscovered the Critically Endangered salamander, Bradytriton silus, in a remote cloud forest in these mountains. We hope to locate other endangered species here, and using matching funds from Conservation International, we will purchase an area of cloud forest and establish a reserve to preserve species. We have already discussed this plan with members of the nearby indigenous Mayan community of Yalambojoch. One of the main objectives of the Herpetology Department of the Museo Historia Natural at the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala is to document the biodiversity of amphibians and reptiles in Guatemala and to advise national governmental and non-governmental organizations about the importance of reptiles and especially amphibians as indicators of forest health. The Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala was founded in 1897. Our museum is 112 years old. My museum conducts research in all parts of Guatemala The Herpetology Department studies amphibians and reptiles in all habitats found in Guatemala. If this grant is awarded, we will target species named below. Most of the species named are salamanders, but somes species are a Critically Endangered frogs, one was described from a stream near the community of Yalambojoch, and others was described in the Cuchumatanes Mountains.