About Aneides hardii (Taylor, 1941)
The Sacramento Mountain salamander, with the scientific name Aneides hardii, is a species of salamander belonging to the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to mountainous regions of New Mexico in the United States, and its natural habitat is temperate forest, where the species is threatened by habitat loss. This salamander is found in three separate mountainous areas of New Mexico: the Capitan Mountains, the Sierra Blanca range, and the Sacramento Mountains. It occurs at elevations of at least 2,400 metres (7,900 ft) above sea level in mixed forests. It is typically found on north-facing or east-facing slopes among Douglas fir, Engelmann spruce, and white fir, often with an understory of Rocky Mountain maple. It commonly hides in leaf litter or rotten logs, or under rocks, fallen branches, or vegetation. Above the tree line, it can be found in stony areas that host mosses and lichens. The only other salamander species that occurs in this area is the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum), which is more of a lowland species that prefers grasslands, savannahs, and woodland edges.
