Description
Pseudoeurycea amuzga is a medium sized salamander with a robust body. The head is wide with nasolabial protuberances that are especially well developed in males. The feet are stout and short and the toes are wide from the base to the ends; the tail is relatively large and slightly compressed. Proportionately, the toes are about the same size (length) as those in Pseudoeurycea teotepec, but P. teotepec does not have pronounced nasolabial protuberances and has slightly thinner toes. When comparing P. amuzga to other closely related pseudoeurycea, P.amuzga has short stout legs and thick toes and the other species, P. ahuitzotl, P. mixcoatl, P. tenchalli, and P. tlahcuiloh, have medium to long legs and thinner toes.

The dorsal coloration is generally dark gray with blue tones; the intercostal grooves are slightly more dark than the superficial dorsal and ventral areas. The belly is a little lighter in coloration than the dorsal area. In the posterior medial part of the belly there are light irregularly spaced marks that reach the ventral part of the tail. The ventral side of the head is also slightly lighter than the ventral side; in the gular fold area, a light band stands out. The feet are reddish brown, and are darker on their dorsal side.

Females are lighter in coloration than males.

This description was translated from Perez-Ramos and Saldana (2000).

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Mexico

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.

This salamander is found in only one isolated location, at Pico del Aguila, in the extreme eastern part of the Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. Sub-populations have been found at the site between 1645-1740 m elevation.

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Very little is known about this salamander (Perez-Ramos and Saldana 2000).

Trends and Threats
Because this species has such a limited range, all efforts should be made to protect the habitat available at Pico del Aguila.

Relation to Humans
This species was named in honor of the native American Amuzgo people, who live close to the area where this salamander occurs.

References

Pérez-Ramos, E. and Saldaña-De La Riva. L. (2003). ''Nueva Especie de Salamandra der Género Pseudoeurycea (Amphibia: Caudata: Plethodontidae) de la región Amuzga, al sureste de Guerrero, México.'' Acta Zoologica Mexicana Nueva Serie, 89, 55-58.

Pérez-Ramos, E. and Saldaña-de la Riva, L. (2000). ''Una nueva especie de salamandra, Pseudoeurycea (Amphibia: Caudata: Plethodontidae) de la region amuzga, al sureste de Guerrero, Mexico.'' Revista Digital Universitaria (http://www.revista.unam.mx/), 1(1).

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2021 Pseudoeurycea amuzga: Amuzga Salamander <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/6193> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Dec 28, 2024.

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

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