Afghanodon mustersi (Smith, 1940:382)

Wagner, Philipp, Bauer, Aaron M., Leviton, Alan E., Wilms, Thomas M. & Böhme, Wolfgang, 2016, A Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Afghanistan *, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 63 (13), pp. 457-565 : 468

Afghanodon mustersi (Smith, 1940:382)

1940 Batrachyperus mustersi Smith, Contributions to the herpetology of Afghanistan. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, ser. 11, 5:382–384.

HOLOTYPE.— BMNH 1946.9.6. 59 (formerly BMNH 1940.3.1. 1), from “mountain streams of the Paghman Range , above Paghman [= 17 mi. W Kabul], at between 9000 and 10,000 feet altitude,” Afghanistan . Paratypes.— BMNH 1946.9.6. 60–63 (formerly 1940.3.1. 2–5), same locality as the holotype .

LOCALITIES.— Darrahe Pain Stream, 3 mi N Paghman (9000 ft.) ( MVZ 232869); 20 km NW of Kabul, Paghman, Pain tributary of Paghman stream ( USNM 216262–63); 20 km NW of Kabul, “dans cuvette d’un torrent à Paghman” ( MNHN 1981.2081); Paghman ( ZFMK 8515–34, 7933– 34); Paghman, 1800 m. ( ZFMK 5375); Paghman Mts. ( KU 194380–83, MCZ A–99124–26, MNHN 1988.7183–85); Paghman, Paghman stream ( CAS 151240); 3 mi N Paghman in Darrahe Pain Stream ( CAS 149128–9); Paghman, Paghman Stream, Darrehe Cape tributary ( CAS 146996–031); Paghman, Paghman Stream, Darrehe Pain tributary ( CAS 146985–95, CAS 147044–67, CAS 147084–108, CAS 152088); Paghman, Paghman Stream, Darrehe Raste tributary ( CAS 147032–43, CAS 147068–83); ca. 4 km above Paghman (7950 ft.) ( MVZ 236802– 25); 4 km from Paghman ( ZISP 6838.1–3); Pengachon, ca Kabul ( KU 194385, KU 194387); Salang pass, 2700 m. ( KU 194384, ZFMK 13343); Sanglakh, 60–80 km W of Kabul ( MNHN 1987.478, MNHN 1987.652, MNHN 1993.827) [see pl. 2, fig. 2 for distribution].

REMARKS.— This species ( Fig. 6 ) is endemic to Afghanistan where it is known from three tributaries of the Pagham Stream drainage (appr. 4 km above the town of Paghman) 2,440–3,750 m elevation. The stream, which is fed by melting glaciers and is about 4 km long, provides the sole known habitat for this species.

CONSERVATION.— Afghanodon mustersi is impacted by irrigated cultivation, overgrazing and physical disturbance by lifestock and pedestrians (Stuart et al. 2008). Moreover, there is a potential for damming the stream as a watersource for Kabul, that would likely have a strong negative impact on this salamander. As it is endemic to Afghanistan and does not occur within protected areas, it should be considered a high priority in conservation management of Afghanistan.

Figures

FIGURE 6: Afghanodon mustersi from the Paghman Range. Photo by W. Böhme.