The distribution of Ambystoma velasci Dugès, 1888 in Veracruz, Mexico: insights for its conservation in the region - Biotaxa
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Herpetology Notes, volume 14: 469-473 (2021) (published online on 01 March 2021)
The distribution of Ambystoma velasci Dugès, 1888 in Veracruz,
Mexico: insights for its conservation in the region
Ángel Iván Contreras-Calvario1, Ángel F. Soto-Pozos2, Jorge Luis Castillo-Juárez1,
Rafael Alejandro Calzada-Arciniega2,*, and Gabriela Parra-Olea2
Introduction range for which no locality records exist (Percino-Daniel
et al., 2019). This salamander has been evaluated as a
The Mexican state of Veracruz has one of the highest
species of Least Concern by the International Union for
diversities of salamanders in Mexico. Most of these
Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2020). However, it is
species belong to the family Plethodontidae, but one
listed in Special Protection Category (Pr) under Mexican
species belongs to the family Ambystomatidae (Parra-
law (NOM-059-SEMARNAT 2010), considering that
Olea et al., 2014). The study of salamander diversity in
numerous factors could be threatening its populations.
the state has continuously given new insights regarding
Knowledge about its ecology and habitat characteristics
salamander diversity and distribution. The implementation
is poor. It is known that the species inhabits a variety of
of better analytical tools, including molecular analyses, as
water bodies, including ponds, streams, lakes, puddles,
well as extensive fieldwork in the last 20 years, has led to
and dams (Ramírez-Bautista et al., 2014; Percino-Daniel
new species descriptions, rediscoveries, and occurrence
et al., 2019). In the southern range of A. velasci, in
data that have conveyed a better understanding of
the states of Puebla and Veracruz, few localities have
salamander diversity and provided more accurate
been reported in the literature or are listed in museum
distributions of the species in the state (Parra-Olea et al.,
databases. Particularly in the state of Veracruz, the only
2010; Sandoval-Comte et al., 2012; García-Castillo et al.,
four known localities are in Central Region, on the
2018; Aguilar-Lopez et al., 2019; Contreras-Calvario et
northeastern slopes of the volcano Cofre de Perote in
al., 2019). Nevertheless, knowledge about the distribution
the municipalities of Perote, Las Vigas de Ramírez, and
and overall ecology of some species has remained scarce.
Acajete (Juárez-Ramírez et al., 2016; GBIF, 2020). Here
One of these species is the Mexican endemic axolotl
we report on new records of A. velasci from Veracruz.
Ambystoma velasci Dugès, 1888 the only ambystomatid
Our records significantly increase the known distribution
salamander in the state.
in Central Region and extend its range to the southern
Ambystoma velasci has a wide geographic distribution,
part of the state in Altas Montañas Region, where this
occurring from the northern state of Chihuahua to central
species has not been recorded before.
Mexico, in the mountains of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic
Belt through the Mexican High Plateau (IUCN, 2020;
Materials and Methods
Fig. 1). While the distribution of the species is well known
on a large scale, there are few published localities from In 2016 and 2017 we searched for new populations of
each state, resulting in large regions within the species’ A. velasci in the state of Veracruz in both Central Region
and Altas Montañas Region (Fig. 1). Specimens were
captured by hand or using small fishing nets. For each
occurrence, we recorded the geographic coordinates
1
Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad and elevation, and took photographs of the specimens.
Veracruzana, Camino Viejo Peñuela-Amatlán de los Reyes,
Since no other species of ambystomatid salamander
s/n, Municipio de Amatlán de los Reyes, Veracruz 94945,
occurs in the region, no identification keys were
México.
2
Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad needed. All recorded specimens corresponded to the
Nacional Autónoma de México, Tercer Circuito Exterior, morphology described for this species in the literature
s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, México, Distrito Federal 70153, (Canseco-Márquez and Gutiérrez-Mayén, 2009).
México. Adults of Ambystoma must use available water bodies
*
Corresponding author e-mail: calzadarale@gmail.com to breed, and the maximum moved distance recorded
© 2021 by Herpetology Notes. Open Access by CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. for an Ambystoma species is 1600 m (Smith and Green,
470 Ángel Iván Contreras-Calvario et al.
Figure 1. Map of records for Ambystoma velasci in Veracruz State, Mexico, and the nearest records in Puebla State.
2005). Thus, we considered populations for which the is in a different municipality, namely Acajete (19.5424°,
calculated straight-line distance was > 15 km as distinct. 97.0950°W, elevation 2947 m), Perote (19.5572°N,
To record the vegetation types and habitat disturbance of 97.1115°W, elevation 2976 m), and Villa Aldama
each population we used the land use and vegetation map (19.6628°N, 97.1773°W, elevation 2354 m). The record
(scale 1:250,000), produced by the Instituto Nacional of Villa Aldama represents the first municipality record
de Estadística y Geografía Serie VI (INEGI, 2016). We for the species. Our new records significantly increase
estimated the extent of occurrence (EOO) by measuring a the EOO of the species in Central Region, from 17 to
minimum convex polygon containing previous and new 59 km2. The new population from Altas Montañas
occurrences presented herein. Region inhabits five ponds in close proximity (maximum
distance < 600 m; Fig. 2). The coordinates of the central
pond are 18.7459°N, 97.3316°W, and the ponds cover an
Results and Discussion
elevational range of 2492–2516 m. Several individuals
We found three new records in Central Region and were observed in each of the ponds.
one new population in Altas Montañas Region, 92 km The records from Altas Montañas Region represent
further south than previously known records in the state a range extension of approximately 92 km to the south
(Fig. 1). All salamanders were found inside bodies of of their previous known distribution in Central Region.
water, and recorded life stages included juveniles as Furthermore, these localities are about 31 km to the
well as paedomorphic and metamorphosed adults (Table east of the nearest historical population in Puebla State
1). The three new records in Central Region represent (Fig. 1), which was reported as extirpated a decade ago
individuals observed in different water bodies (i.e., (Canseco-Marquez and Gutiérrez-Mayen, 2010). The
separated by at least 200 m). Each of the three records nearest extant population in Puebla State is about 38 kmDistribution and Conservation of Ambystoma velasci 471
Table 1. Results from a survey of Ambystoma velasci in central and southern Veracruz State, Mexico.
Listed are water bodies, numbers of individuals, and recorded life stages. All adults represent paedomorphic
adults except those indicated with an asterisk (*), which were metamorphosed.
Observed Individuals
Region Municipality Type of Water Body
Juveniles Adults
Altas Montañas Acultzingo jagüey 0 1
Altas Montañas Acultzingo jagüey 0 2
Altas Montañas Acultzingo jagüey 0 29
Altas Montañas Acultzingo jagüey 0 4*
Altas Montañas Acultzingo jagüey 0 12
Central Acajete lagoon 0 3
Central Perote puddle 0 27
Central Villa Aldama stream 50 8
from the new site (Fig. 1). The land-use and vegetation small shallow ponds along the stream, and puddles. In
type around the new records is heterogeneous. The contrast, in Altas Montañas Region the salamanders
records in Central Region are mainly in pine forest were observed only in artificial ponds. These artificial
but also include grasslands, secondary vegetation, and ponds, known as jaguëyes locally, are water reservoirs
seasonal agriculture areas, whereas all the records in Altas commonly present in rural areas, filled by rainwater,
Montañas are restricted to seasonal agricultural areas. and used by people for a variety of purposes, including
The increase of the EOO in Central Region suggests agriculture and cattle ranching. Those activities by
that the species could have a broader distribution than the local human population represents a threat to the
is currently known. Most of Central Region records are populations of A. velasci in other areas of its distribution
in water bodies located within pine forest. Fortunately, (Percino-Daniel et al., 2019). Nevertheless, artificial
some of the records are within the San Juan del Monte water bodies represent available habitat for the species,
Reserve, administrated by the government of Veracruz and discrete and regulated use of these water bodies
State. This protection should limit or at least regulate could ensure the persistence of the species and other
the logging or other activities that impact the available taxa in the region (Oertli, 2018), especially where natural
habitat. Nonetheless, this area is affected continuously by habitats have been piped, dried, or polluted.
forest fires (Delfín-Muñoz, 2012), causing the reduction To ensure the survival of the species where the only
and deterioration of salamander habitat. This situation is available habitats are jagüeyes, we suggest that (1)
relevant considering not only the presence of A. velasci, such water bodies must be considered while planning
but also in the context of high salamander diversity in conservation strategies for the species in the region,
the area, which includes species such as Chiropterotriton (2) conservation activities developed by different
totonacus, C. perotensis, Thorius munificus, Aquiloeurycea stakeholders (academia, NGOs, and government) should
cephalica, Pseudoeurycea leprosa, and P. melanomolga increase the awareness of the importance of jagüeyes
(Parra-Olea et al., 2001, 2020; Juárez-Ramírez et al., as breeding sites for ambystomatid salamanders among
2016). Conversely, the water bodies at Altas Montañas the owners and other community members, and (3)
are within a disturbed area, where active logging and communities should implement better practices to
livestock activity occurs despite being within the maintain the populations of Ambystoma within their
protected area Parque Nacional Cañón del Río Blanco water bodies. The record of populations like the ones
(Rivera-Hernández, 2015; CONANP, 2020). reported herein is essential to our understanding of the
The Ambystoma populations from Veracruz featured diversity of salamanders at a regional scale and plan
here inhabit different water bodies (Table 1). In Central future conservation and management activities.
Region, these include lagoons, intermittent streams,472 Ángel Iván Contreras-Calvario et al.
Figure 2. (A) A paedomorphic individual of Ambystoma velasci from Altas Montañas Region, Veracruz State, Mexico. (B) An
artificial water body known as jagüey, where A. velasci is found.
Acknowledgements. We thank Christopher Cousins for his Reyes, who kindly helped to design Figure 1. Fieldwork for this
helpful comments to improve the English in an early version of research was supported by a grant from the Programa de Apoyo
this manuscript. We also thank Aníbal Díaz de la Vega and an a Proyectos de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica (PAPIIT-
anonymous reviewer for their helpful comments, which helped UNAM) IN203617.
improve the overall quality of this work. We are grateful to
Eduardo Pineda, who shared data of specimens deposited in the
References
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