Golden alpine salamander  (Salamandra atra aurorae)

Golden alpine salamander

Facts

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Amphibia
Order Urodela
Family Salamandridae
Genus Salamandra
Size Total length: up to 13 cm including tail (3).

Status

Classified as Critically Endangered (CR - B1+2bc) on the IUCN Red List 2002 (10). Listed on Appendix II of the Bern Convention (as Salamandra atra) (9), Annexes II (priority) and IV of the EC Habitats Directive (2).

Description

The golden alpine salamander is small and robust with large parotoid glands visible on the head. It is jet black in colour with whitish, greyish-yellow or intense yellow markings along the back that vary from restricted diffuse spotting to a broad, irregular band (1). The yellowish markings are usually the dominant colour, although a new population (discovered in the Pasubio Massif) consists of predominantly black salamanders (11). Captive observations have shown that the yellowish colour can change within four months to dark brown-black (8).

Range

The species is known only from an area between Trento and Asiago in northeastern Italy. This subspecies (Salamander atra aurorae) occupies a highly restricted range (less than 50 km²) at the southern boarder of the larger area (3). Recently, a new but also isolated population has been discovered in the Pasubio Massif, southeast of Rovereto (6). This population may in fact represent a distinct subspecies and at present is only known from an area of less than 1km² (11).

Habitat

Salamandra atra aurorae is found in subalpine regions; associated with open forests where the fir Abies alba dominates, and where there is herbaceous ground vegetation (11).

Biology

Studies on specific biological aspects of this fully terrestrial salamander are lacking. It is likely that life-history characteristics are similar to those of the subspecies Salamadra atra atra, in which one embryo develops in each of the two uteri. Gestation takes 3 years at altitudes of 1,400 to 1,700 metres. Young are born fully metamorphosed and terrestrial; they are around 4 - 5 cm long. These salamanders live for at least 10 years (1).

Threats

Due to its small distribution area, habitat destruction (in the form of deforestation) is the main threat. The collection of specimens for scientific studies or private keeping can also significantly affect the vulnerable small populations (7), and the drainage of water from the area is a further threat to survival (11).

Conservation

The collection of Salamandra atra aurorae is prohibited and visitors are forbidden from leaving the paths in the core habitat area of Bosco del Dosso (11).

Further Information

For more information on slamanders see:

Authentication

Information supplied by Sergé Bogaerts and Kurt Grossenbacher.

Glossary

Metamorphosis: an abrupt physical change from the larval to the adult form.
Parotoid gland: in some amphibians, a pair of wart-like glands that appear behind the eyes or on the neck or shoulders.
Subspecies: a different race of a species, which is geographically separated from other populations of that species.

References

  1. Arnold, E.N. & Ovenden, D. (2002) Collins Field Guide: Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. [2nd edn.] Harper Collins, London.
  2. Habitats Directive (Feb 2002)
    http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/hab-an2en.htm
  3. Trevian, P. (1982) A new subspecies of alpine salamander. Boll. Zool., 49: 235 - 239.
  4. Franzen, M. & Nicolai, S. (1987) Eine neue Fundort von Salamandra atra aurorae Trevisan 1982 (Caudata: Salamandridae). Jb. Feldherpetologie, 1: 45 - 47.
  5. Bonato, L. & Grossenbacher, K. (2000) On the distribution and chromatic differentiation of the Alpine Salamander, Salamandra atra Laurenti, 1768, between Val Lagarina and Val Sugana (Venetian Prealps): an updated review (Urodela: Salamandridae). Herpetozoa, 13: 171 - 180.
  6. Bonato, L. (2000) A new interesting population of the Alpine salamander, Salamandra atra in the Venetian Alps. Atti. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat, Venezia 50: 231 - 239.
  7. Grossenbacher, K. (1995) Was ist mit Salamandra atra aurorae los? Elaphe (N.F.) 3: 6 - 8.
  8. Steinfartz, S. (1998) Über eine interessante Farbkleidveränderung bei Salamandra atra aurorae. Salamandra, 34: 69 - 72.
  9. Berne Convention (April, 2003)
    http://www.ecnc.nl
  10. IUCN Red List (April, 2003)
    http://www.redlist.org
  11. Grossenbacher, K. (July, 2003) Pers. comm.