An Extremely Rare Salamander Species Was Just Rediscovered

extremely rare salamander smaller than a finger on wet ground

Jackson’s Climbing salamander, an extremely rare salamander species, was just rediscovered.

COUNCIL CHRONICLE – A team of scientists reported that they have spotted and rediscovered an extremely rare species of salamander, one which hasn’t been seen in more than four decades.

The species is known as the Bolitoglossa Jacksoni or Jackson’s Climbing Salamander and was first discovered back in 1975, in Guatemala. Paul Elias, the first one to spot it, named it after Jeremy Jackson, his colleague. Also, the salamander’s appellation of “the golden wonder” is based on its beauty.

Nonetheless, the species hasn’t been seen since its 1970s discovery, even though efforts have been made in that direction. In 2014, an expedition set out with this specific target, and together with both Elias and Jackson, but failed to find any new specimens.

The Extremely Rare Salamander Reappearance Was an “Incredible and Unexpected” Event

GWC or the Global Wildfire Conservation members are the ones to have found the salamander. They did so through the organization’s Search for Lost Initiatives program. Jackson’s Climbing salamander is part of a list of elusive and incredibly rare species named the “25 Most Wanted Lost Species”.

Many of the species haven’t been seen in decades, for example, the Scarlet Harlequin frog or the Fernandina Galapagos tortoise, or Wellington’s Solitary coral. The list itself is just the incredibly short version of a catalog of around 1,200 plant and animal species that are considered missing.

In trying to find new specimens of the extremely rare salamander, the GWC managed to name its habitat, the Cuchumatanes Mountain range a natural reserve. This was achieved in collaboration with the Rainforest Trust, and resulted in the Finca San Isidro Amphibian reserve.

A guard at this reserve is the one to have spotted the third ever discovered Jackson’s Climbing salamander, which is also a young specimen. Specialists later confirmed its belonging to the species’.

“This rediscovery can only be a good omen for the future of the Search for Lost Species campaign. It’s a sign that if we get out there and work at it, many of these species can be found and saved,” declared Don Church, who is the GWC president.

Jackson’s Climbing Salamander rediscovered in Guatemala 42 years after last sighting! https://t.co/fkSFkBXqDS Photo: Carlos Vasquez Almazan pic.twitter.com/SF78lVw3e2

— Amphibians.org (@amphibiansorg) October 30, 2017