Blunt-headed Salamander

Females range from 42 to 93 mm (1.65-3.66 inches) in standard length. Including the tail, females can have total lengths up to 161 mm (6.34 inches). Males of this species are typically smaller than females. Their standard lengths range from 45.4 to 70.5 mm (1.79-2.78 inches). Their total length has been recorded up to 128.8 mm (5.07 inches). Their tails are similar in length to their bodies. They have 70-80 maxillary-premaxillary teeth and 11 costal grooves. Their limbs are long and webbing of the feet is found in adults. Coloration differs based on the lifecycle stage of the salamanders. Some individuals ranged from black to an olive-green dorsally, and ventrally are grey with some creme-colored spots. These spots are primarily observed in adult males. Few individuals have been found to possess redness on their gills. This was noted in younger individuals, with the older ones being faded. Their colors are a result of the chromatophores and their pigments, and anything irregular from that is a result of a mutation that occurred within them.

Blunt-headed salamanders are native only to a small region of Michoacán located in Mexico. They inhabit pine forests in hilly regions located near agricultural sites. These areas are typically subjected to fragmentation. They also are found in grasslands, and mostly exist on land. They need wetland areas with ponds for breeding. Some have been found to utilize cattle ponds with muddy bottoms during larval stages. Blunt-headed salamanders have been discovered hiding under logs nearby to ponds and wetland breeding sites. Their region has humid weather during all seasons, with the rainy season occurring in the summer. The area contains an arrangement of native grass and shrub species.