Mexican Ambystomids 2 - dead specimens - altamirani, ambycephalum, flavipiperatum

[lauren]

Here are more specimen photos I took at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Most of these specimens were collected 40 years ago or more.

These are Ambystoma altamirani larvae from near Mexico City and Morelos

This is an A. ambycephalum neotene from Michoacan

This is an A. flavipiperatum neotene from Guadalahara, Jalisco. It was collected by J. Anderson (of andersoni fame)

granulosum, ordinarium, and velasci will come in post 3.

 

[justin]

Very interesting specimens. Do you know their current status in the wild? I've been very curious about other species from that region.

 

[lauren]

Justin - I don't think their status has been determined. They are usually endemic to one remote lake or stream, so their numbers and range have never been very large (and no two occupy the same lake). Most of their habitats are situated in and the volcanic peaks of central Mexico around Mexico City.