Large alpine salamander  (Salamandra lanzai)

Threats

The main threats facing this vulnerable species are thought to include habitat loss, drainage of habitats, disturbance by vehicles, over-collecting and genetic problems resulting from the very small sizes of populations (2). The small geographic distribution of this species means that it is very vulnerable to chance events, such as extreme weather. In some cases, erosion by alpine streams can be a problem for the survivorship of some populations (8).

Conservation

Surprisingly, this unique and vulnerable European alpine salamander is not included in important European conservation legislation or Red Lists, including the Habitats Directive. Regular monitoring and further research into this species are essential in order to inform future conservation actions (2) (8).

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
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