Salamandra atra

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

View Printer Friendly

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AMPHIBIA	CAUDATA	SALAMANDRIDAE

Scientific Name:

Salamandra atra

Species Authority:

Laurenti, 1768

Common Name/s:

English

–

Alpine Salamander, Golden Salamander

Taxonomic Notes:

Four subspecies have been described: Salamandra atra atra; S. a. aurorae; S.a. prenjensis; and S. a. pasobiensis. The status of these subspecies remains questionable. S.a. prenjensis is often not considered to be valid. S.a. aurorae has been sometimes considered to be a separate species. Joger (1996), using serum proteins, showed significant differences, and he proposed the elevation of S.a. aurorae to a full species. Veith et al. (1998), analyzing mitDNA of S.a. aurorae did not find any significant difference. Riberon et al. (2001) indicate a complex pattern of divergence for the alpine populations, without reaching or stressing any taxonomic consequences.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2009

Assessor/s:

Franco Andreone, Mathieu Denoël, Claude Miaud, Benedikt Schmidt, Paul Edgar, Milan Vogrin, Jelka Crnobrnja Isailovic, Rastko Ajtic, Claudia Corti, Idriz Haxhiu

Reviewer/s:

Cox, N. and Temple, H.J. (Global Amphibian Assessment)

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a degree of habitat modification, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

The subspecies Salamandra atra aurorae qualifies for listing as Critically Endangered under criterion B1ab(iii) because its Extent of Occurrence is probably less than 100 km2, all individuals may be in a single location, and there is continuing decline in the quality of its habitat in the Bosco del Dosso.

History:

2006	–	Least Concern
1996	–	Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is present in the European Alps (including a recently discovered population close to the village of Samoëns in the Département de la Haute-Savoie, France), with isolated populations in the Balkan Dinaric Alps in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia-Montenegro and northern Albania. It occurs at elevations between 400 and 2800m asl (more frequent between 800-2,000m asl). The subspecies Salamandra atra aurorae is largely restricted to the Bosco del Dosso and Val Rensola in north-east Italy (between 1,300 and 1,800m asl); new localities extending to the east were discovered in the early 1990s (with a distance between furthermost sites of 15km2), and it is possible that this subspecies might occur in the entire forested high plateau of the area. Further field surveys are needed to verify the full distribution of Salamandra atra aurorae.
Countries:	Native: Albania; Austria; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; France; Germany; Italy; Liechtenstein; Montenegro; Serbia; Slovenia; Switzerland
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is still be abundant in Switzerland (although now considered to be extinct in some southern parts of the country), Germany, Austria and parts of Italy. It appears to be more rare and threatened in the Dinaric Alps in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia-Montenegro and northern Albania (e.g., Kalezic and Dzukic, 2001). Gasc et al. (1997) considered Salamandra atra aurorae to be highly endangered.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

It is still be abundant in Switzerland (although now considered to be extinct in some southern parts of the country), Germany, Austria and parts of Italy. It appears to be more rare and threatened in the Dinaric Alps in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia-Montenegro and northern Albania (e.g., Kalezic and Dzukic, 2001). Gasc et al. (1997) considered Salamandra atra aurorae to be highly endangered.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is found in cool, damp alpine meadows, stony pastures, dwarf heath and mixed, broadleaf and coniferous woodland. Animals are usually hidden below stones and logs, but can be encountered in shady places, or after rain, during the day. The species is unusual in that it has a ovi-viviparous method of reproduction by which it gives birth on land to an average of two fully metamorphosed offspring; the gestation period is between two and four years. It may be found in pastureland and other slightly modified habitats. It is not associated with water.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It is found in cool, damp alpine meadows, stony pastures, dwarf heath and mixed, broadleaf and coniferous woodland. Animals are usually hidden below stones and logs, but can be encountered in shady places, or after rain, during the day. The species is unusual in that it has a ovi-viviparous method of reproduction by which it gives birth on land to an average of two fully metamorphosed offspring; the gestation period is between two and four years. It may be found in pastureland and other slightly modified habitats. It is not associated with water.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are generally no threats to the Italian populations of S. a. atra. Some local populations in Switzerland are threatened by road mortality and populations of the Dinaric Alps are threatened by localized habitat destruction through intensification of farming methods, tourism (skiing) and infrastructure development. The subspecies S. a. aurorae is threatened by collection for scientific purposes and the pet trade and general habitat alteration through excessive water abstraction from streams, and the removal of ground cover during forestry practices. Populations in Serbia and Montenegro are small, fragmented and threatened by over-collecting for the pet trade and possibly climatic changes.

Major Threat(s):

There are generally no threats to the Italian populations of S. a. atra. Some local populations in Switzerland are threatened by road mortality and populations of the Dinaric Alps are threatened by localized habitat destruction through intensification of farming methods, tourism (skiing) and infrastructure development. The subspecies S. a. aurorae is threatened by collection for scientific purposes and the pet trade and general habitat alteration through excessive water abstraction from streams, and the removal of ground cover during forestry practices. Populations in Serbia and Montenegro are small, fragmented and threatened by over-collecting for the pet trade and possibly climatic changes.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Salamandra atra is listed on Appendix II of the Bern Convention and Salamandra atra aurorae is listed on Annex II* of the EU Habitats Directive under the name 'Salamandra salamandra aurorae'; both Salamandra atra and 'Salamandra aurorae'[sic] are also listed on Annex IV of the Directive. The species is protected by national legislation in most range countries (e.g.. Switzerland, Slovenia) and it is present in a number of protected areas. Kalezic and Dzukic (2001) suggest the establishment of a protected area on Prokletije Mount would significantly aid the conservation of S. atra in the Dinaric Alps. The subspecies S. a. aurorae is present in the Natura 2000 sites of Cima Dodici (10,450 ha) and Pasubo e Piccole Dolomiti: Monte Pasubo (1,920 ha).

Conservation Actions:

Salamandra atra is listed on Appendix II of the Bern Convention and Salamandra atra aurorae is listed on Annex II* of the EU Habitats Directive under the name 'Salamandra salamandra aurorae'; both Salamandra atra and 'Salamandra aurorae'[sic] are also listed on Annex IV of the Directive. The species is protected by national legislation in most range countries (e.g.. Switzerland, Slovenia) and it is present in a number of protected areas. Kalezic and Dzukic (2001) suggest the establishment of a protected area on Prokletije Mount would significantly aid the conservation of S. atra in the Dinaric Alps. The subspecies S. a. aurorae is present in the Natura 2000 sites of Cima Dodici (10,450 ha) and Pasubo e Piccole Dolomiti: Monte Pasubo (1,920 ha).

Bibliography [top]

	1997. Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe. Societas Europea Herpetologica & Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris. Andreone, F. and Luiselli, L.M. 2000. The Italian batrachofauna and its conservation status: a statistical assessment. Biological Conservation: 197-208. Arnold, E.N. 2003. Reptiles and amphibians of Europe. Princeton University Press. Böhme, W, Grossenbacher, K. and Thiesmeier, B. 1999. Handbuch der Reptilien und Amphibien Europas, band 4/I:Schwanzlurche (Urodela).. Bonato, L. 2000. A new interesting population of Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra) in the Venetian Prealps. Bollettino del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Venezia: 231-237. Bonato, L. and Fracasso, G. 1998. Aspetti morfologici di una popolazione di Salamandra atra aurorae: risultati preliminari. Bollettino del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Venezia: 31-35. Bonato, L. and Fracasso, G. 2003. Movements, distribution pattern and density in a population of Salamandra atra aurorae (Caudata : Salamandridae). Amphibia-Reptilia: 251-260. Bonato, L. and 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: 171-180. Bonato, L. and Steinfartz, S. 2005. Evolution of the melanistic colour in the Alpine salamander Salamandra atra as revealed by a new subspecies from the Venetian Prealps. Italian Journal of Zoology 72: 253-260. Franzen, M. and Nicolai, S. 1987. Ein neuer Fundort von Salamandra atra aurorae Trevisan 1982 (Caudata: Salamandridae). Jb. Feldherpetologie: 45-47. Gautier, P. and Miaud, C. 2003. Faecal pellets used as an economic territorial marker in two terrestrial Alpine salamanders. Ecoscience: 134-139. Griffiths, R.A. 1996. Newts and Salamanders of Europe. Poyser Natural History, London. Grossenbacher, K. 1994. Rote Liste der gefährdeten Amphibien der Schweiz. In: BUWAL (ed.), Rote Liste der gefährdeten Tierarten in der Schweiz, pp. 33-34. BUWAL (Bundesamt für Umwelt, Wald und Landschaft), Bern. Grossenbacher, K. 1994. Zur Systematik und Verbreitung der Alpensalamander (Salamandra atra atra, Salamandra atra aurorae, Salamandra lanzai). Abhandlungen und Berichte für Naturkunde: 75-81. IUCN. 2009. European Species on the IUCN Red List. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/europe. (Accessed: 22 June 2009). Joger, U. 1986. Serumproteinelektrophoretische Daten zur Frage der Validitat der Unterarten des Alpensalamanders Salamandra atra, Laurenti 1768 (Caudata, Salamandridae). Salamandra: 218-220. Kalezic, M. and Dzukic, G. 2001. Amphibian status in Serbia and Montenegro (FR Yugoslavia). FrogLog. Lanza, B., Andreone, F., Bologna, M.A., Corti, C. and Razzetti, E. 2007. Fauna d'Italia Amphibia. Vol. XLII. Edizioni Calderini de Il Sole 24 ORE Editoria Specializzta S.r.l., Bologna. Luiselli, L., Andreone, F., Capizzi, D. and Anibaldi, C. 2001. Body size, sex ratio and fecundity traits of a Salamandra atra atra population from the north-eastern Italian Alps (Amphibia, Urodela, Salamandridae). Italian Journal of Zoology (Camerino, Italy): 125-130. Ribéron, A., Desmet, J.F. and Miaud, C. 2003. Validation génétique de la présence de la salamandre noire Salamandra atra en France (Département de la Haute-Savoie). Bulletin de la Société Herpétologique de France: 4-9. Ribéron, A., Miaud, C., Grossenbacher, K. and Taberlet, P. 2001. Phylogeography of the Alpine salamander, Salamandra atra (Salamandridae) and the influence of the Pleistocene climatic oscillations on population divergence. Molecular Ecology: 1555-1560. Riberon, A., Miaud, C., Guyétant, R. and Taberlet, P. 2004. Genetic variation in an endemic salamander, Salamandra atra, using amplified fragment length polymorphism. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution: 910-914. Rivera, X. 1995. Salamandra: un género muy diversificado. Reptilia: 20-25. Sauer, W. 2001. Erste Fotos zur Geburt beim Alpensalamander (Salamandra atra atra). Draco: 69-75. Sindaco, R., Doria, G., Razzetti, E. and Bernini, F. 2006. Atlas of Italian Amphibians and Reptiles\\Atlante Degli Anfibi E Dei Rettili D'Italia. Societas Herpetologica Italica - Edizioni Polistampa, Firenze. Steinfartz, S., Veith, M. and Tautz, D. 2000. Mitochondrial sequence analysis of Salamandra taxa suggests old splits of major lineages and postglacial recolonisations of Central Europe from distinct source populations of Salamandra salamandra. Molecular Ecology: 397-410. Thorn, R. 1968. Les salamandres d’Europe, d’Asia, et d’Afrique du Nord. Éditions Paul Lechevalier, Paris. Veith, M., Steinfartz, S., Zardoya, R., Seitz, A. and Meyer, A. 1998. A molecular phylogeny of “true” salamanders (family Salamandridae) and the evolution of terrestriality of reproductive modes. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research: 7-16. Vogrin, M. 2002. Amphibians. In: Vogrin, M. (ed.), Nature in municipality Kidricevo, pp. 99-106. Municipality Kidricevo. Vogrin, N. 1997. The status of amphibians in Slovenia. FrogLog.

1997. Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe. Societas Europea Herpetologica & Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris.

Andreone, F. and Luiselli, L.M. 2000. The Italian batrachofauna and its conservation status: a statistical assessment. Biological Conservation: 197-208.

Arnold, E.N. 2003. Reptiles and amphibians of Europe. Princeton University Press.

Böhme, W, Grossenbacher, K. and Thiesmeier, B. 1999. Handbuch der Reptilien und Amphibien Europas, band 4/I:Schwanzlurche (Urodela)..

Bonato, L. 2000. A new interesting population of Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra) in the Venetian Prealps. Bollettino del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Venezia: 231-237.

Bonato, L. and Fracasso, G. 1998. Aspetti morfologici di una popolazione di Salamandra atra aurorae: risultati preliminari. Bollettino del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Venezia: 31-35.

Bonato, L. and Fracasso, G. 2003. Movements, distribution pattern and density in a population of Salamandra atra aurorae (Caudata : Salamandridae). Amphibia-Reptilia: 251-260.

Bonato, L. and 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: 171-180.

Bonato, L. and Steinfartz, S. 2005. Evolution of the melanistic colour in the Alpine salamander Salamandra atra as revealed by a new subspecies from the Venetian Prealps. Italian Journal of Zoology 72: 253-260.

Franzen, M. and Nicolai, S. 1987. Ein neuer Fundort von Salamandra atra aurorae Trevisan 1982 (Caudata: Salamandridae). Jb. Feldherpetologie: 45-47.

Gautier, P. and Miaud, C. 2003. Faecal pellets used as an economic territorial marker in two terrestrial Alpine salamanders. Ecoscience: 134-139.

Griffiths, R.A. 1996. Newts and Salamanders of Europe. Poyser Natural History, London.

Grossenbacher, K. 1994. Rote Liste der gefährdeten Amphibien der Schweiz. In: BUWAL (ed.), Rote Liste der gefährdeten Tierarten in der Schweiz, pp. 33-34. BUWAL (Bundesamt für Umwelt, Wald und Landschaft), Bern.

Grossenbacher, K. 1994. Zur Systematik und Verbreitung der Alpensalamander (Salamandra atra atra, Salamandra atra aurorae, Salamandra lanzai). Abhandlungen und Berichte für Naturkunde: 75-81.

IUCN. 2009. European Species on the IUCN Red List. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/europe. (Accessed: 22 June 2009).

Joger, U. 1986. Serumproteinelektrophoretische Daten zur Frage der Validitat der Unterarten des Alpensalamanders Salamandra atra, Laurenti 1768 (Caudata, Salamandridae). Salamandra: 218-220.

Kalezic, M. and Dzukic, G. 2001. Amphibian status in Serbia and Montenegro (FR Yugoslavia). FrogLog.

Lanza, B., Andreone, F., Bologna, M.A., Corti, C. and Razzetti, E. 2007. Fauna d'Italia Amphibia. Vol. XLII. Edizioni Calderini de Il Sole 24 ORE Editoria Specializzta S.r.l., Bologna.

Luiselli, L., Andreone, F., Capizzi, D. and Anibaldi, C. 2001. Body size, sex ratio and fecundity traits of a Salamandra atra atra population from the north-eastern Italian Alps (Amphibia, Urodela, Salamandridae). Italian Journal of Zoology (Camerino, Italy): 125-130.

Ribéron, A., Desmet, J.F. and Miaud, C. 2003. Validation génétique de la présence de la salamandre noire Salamandra atra en France (Département de la Haute-Savoie). Bulletin de la Société Herpétologique de France: 4-9.

Ribéron, A., Miaud, C., Grossenbacher, K. and Taberlet, P. 2001. Phylogeography of the Alpine salamander, Salamandra atra (Salamandridae) and the influence of the Pleistocene climatic oscillations on population divergence. Molecular Ecology: 1555-1560.

Riberon, A., Miaud, C., Guyétant, R. and Taberlet, P. 2004. Genetic variation in an endemic salamander, Salamandra atra, using amplified fragment length polymorphism. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution: 910-914.

Rivera, X. 1995. Salamandra: un género muy diversificado. Reptilia: 20-25.

Sauer, W. 2001. Erste Fotos zur Geburt beim Alpensalamander (Salamandra atra atra). Draco: 69-75.

Sindaco, R., Doria, G., Razzetti, E. and Bernini, F. 2006. Atlas of Italian Amphibians and Reptiles\\Atlante Degli Anfibi E Dei Rettili D'Italia. Societas Herpetologica Italica - Edizioni Polistampa, Firenze.

Steinfartz, S., Veith, M. and Tautz, D. 2000. Mitochondrial sequence analysis of Salamandra taxa suggests old splits of major lineages and postglacial recolonisations of Central Europe from distinct source populations of Salamandra salamandra. Molecular Ecology: 397-410.

Thorn, R. 1968. Les salamandres d’Europe, d’Asia, et d’Afrique du Nord. Éditions Paul Lechevalier, Paris.

Veith, M., Steinfartz, S., Zardoya, R., Seitz, A. and Meyer, A. 1998. A molecular phylogeny of “true” salamanders (family Salamandridae) and the evolution of terrestriality of reproductive modes. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research: 7-16.

Vogrin, M. 2002. Amphibians. In: Vogrin, M. (ed.), Nature in municipality Kidricevo, pp. 99-106. Municipality Kidricevo.

Vogrin, N. 1997. The status of amphibians in Slovenia. FrogLog.

Citation:	Franco Andreone, Mathieu Denoël, Claude Miaud, Benedikt Schmidt, Paul Edgar, Milan Vogrin, Jelka Crnobrnja Isailovic, Rastko Ajtic, Claudia Corti, Idriz Haxhiu 2009. Salamandra atra. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 10 February 2012.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided