| Bolitoglossa nicefori | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Caudata |
| Family: | Plethodontidae |
| Genus: | Bolitoglossa |
| Species: | B. nicefori |
| Binomial name | |
| Bolitoglossa nicefori Brame & Wake, 1963 |
|
Bolitoglossa nicefori is a single species belonging to the largest and most widely distributed genus of salamanders in the world today, consisting of up to 101 different species. (See Bolitoglossa). The species is a member of the Plethodontidae family. It is endemic to Colombia, and its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, plantations , and heavily degraded former forest. The greatest threat posed to this species is habitat loss, however they are currently nowhere near the risk of extinction.[1]
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The general habitat for B. nicefori consists of various locations throughout Columbia including: Piedecuesta, Hacienda el Robles, and Mesa de los Santons municipalies, Santander, Microcuenca la Venta, and Verea la Amarillas. The climate of the overall habitat is a highly disturbed tropical forest with average rainfall per year of 1,160 mm and an average temperature of 17.36°C.
This species inhabits both arboreal and terrestrial sites. The majority of them (85%) have been found on herbaceous plants such as the organic coffee plants of large plantations Columbian municipalities. Preovulatory and pregnant females exclusively inhabit the leaf litter between the months of January and March.[2]
Their diet consists of a wide range of arthropods. Their most prominent prey are ants, beetles, and larval flies. In rare cases, small traces of vegetation have been found to contribute to their diet. They either actively hunt or 'sit and wait' to catch their prey. Overall their hunting has only a small effect on even their most prominent food source species. [2]
Male B. nicefori are capable of sexual activity year round, continually undergoing spermatogenesis. Females on the other hand are seasonal reproducers between the dry months of April and June. "Eggs are laid and brooded during the dry season, and hatchlings emerge during the rainy season when moisture is favorable to growth and dispersal." Climate, microhabitat, and availability and abundance of resources can all have an effect on this process. Females produce one clutch (eggs) per year, consisting of anywhere between 20-50 eggs, and matings occur around the same general time of egg-laying.
The population exhibits strong sexual dimorphism in body size between male and female B. nicefori. Males reach a standard length of 29-50 mm at maturation, whereas females are considerably larger reaching a standard length of 39-75 mm. The overall time it takes for these salamanders to completely mature is thought to be approximately 6 years.[2]