Giant Southern Salamander (Isthmura maxima)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 180518096

Development of forestry management plans for salamander conservation with rural communities within the range of the Southern Giant Salamander

 

This giant salamander is endemic from the south of Mexico. It is distributed in the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero. This species is listed as endangered by the IUCN mainly because its limited area of occupancy, it occurs in fewer than five threat-defined locations, and there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat. The major threats to this species are urbanization and new agricultural practices. It is important to mention that this species has not been recorded in any protected areas and is not protected by Mexican law. The last IUCN assessment (IUCN, 2016) listed the species as Endangered and suggests that further surveys and research on its population's size and trends are needed.

This project aims to obtain basic ecological data to develop an adequate forestry management plan that maintains suitable conditions for the Giant Southern Salamanders. Characterize the habitat if this species is essential to evaluate whether there is a difference in the spatial distribution in management areas as conserved forest, secondary vegetation, and coffee plantations but also between sexes and stages. An important component of our project is to record the knowledge and attitudes towards the Southern Giant Salamander and other salamanders in the region. We are increasing awareness of salamander’s conservation with educational talks in rural communities.