AmphibiaWeb - Thorius aureus
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(Translations may not be accurate.)

Thorius aureus Hanken & Wake, 1994
Golden Thorius
family: Plethodontidae
subfamily: Hemidactyliinae
genus: Thorius

© 2009 Sean Michael Rovito (1 of 6)
Conservation Status (definitions)
IUCN Red List Status Account Critically Endangered (CR)
CITES No CITES Listing
National Status None
Regional Status None

   

 

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.

Description
This is a large species of Thorius. Adult males have an average length of 25.9 mm (range 21.1-29.3 in 21 males). Adult females have an average length of 29.1 mm (range 22.6-34.9 in 20 females). Head size is relatively narrow. SL averages 8.1 times the head width in males (range 6.8-8.9 in 10 males). The mean SL in females is 8.9 (range 8.3-9.7 in 10 females). The snout is more rounded in females and somewhat more pointed in males. Nostrils are oval with an average major axis to minor axis ratio of 1.6 (range 1.3-2.0). There is a suborbital groove intersecting the lip on each side. Teeth are more developed and more numerous in females. The mean number of premaxilliary teeth is 2.1 (range 0-5) in males, and 5.2 (range3-7) in females. The mean number of maxilliary teeth is 13.2 (range 9-21) in males and 21 (range 11-34) in females. The number of vomerine teeth ranges from 6-11 with means of 8.0 and 8.5 in males and females respectively. This species has a relatively robust trunk and short limbs. Average limb intervals are 6.4 (range 6-7.5) in males and 7.4 (range 7-7.5) in females. The hands and feet are small and narrow. The first and fifth digits are both short and poorly developed.

The species has been noted to have a prominent gold dorsal stripe and a pale venter. The stripe may be solid or interrupted by dark markings. The lateral surfaces have light flecking (Hanken and Wake 1994).

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Mexico

 

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.
This is a terrestrial species collected in montane pine-oak-fir forests and upper cloud forest habitat. The known elevation range is 2475-2930 m. The species is known onle from the type localities along Hwy 175 on the north slopes of Cerre Pelon.

It is known to be sympatric with T. macdougalli and T. boreas at upper elevations and with T. arboreus at lower elevations (Hanken and Wake 1994).

References

Hanken, J., Wake, D. B. (1994). ''Five new species of minute salamanders, genus Thorius (Caudata: Plethodontidae), from Northern Oaxaca, Mexico.'' Copeia, 1994(3), 573-590.



Originally submitted by: Cailin O'Connor (first posted 2002-11-25)
Edited by: Meredith Mahoney (2003-02-05)

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2003 Thorius aureus: Golden Thorius <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/4202> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Mar 28, 2024.



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Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 28 Mar 2024.

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