| Salamandra atra pasubiensis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Salamandridae |
| Genus: | Salamandra |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | S. a. pasubiensis |
| Trinomial name | |
| Salamandra atra pasubiensis Bonato & Steinfartz, 2005 | |
Salamandra atra pasubiensis is a subspecies of the alpine salamander Salamandra atra found in south-eastern Italian Prealps.
Salamandra atra pasubiensis differs from all other subspecies of S. atra in the individual variability of the body colour. The body surface is mainly uniformly black, with a variable number and extent of yellow and brown patches on the dorsal surface of the head, the trunk, the limbs and the tail. The patches are very similar to those found in S. atra aurorae , however much smaller and covering only a minor part of the dorsal surface. Extent and arrangement of the patches are highly variable between individuals, some of which are even entirely black, like in S. atra atra and S. a. prenjensis. [1] The colour pattern is established at birth and it is assumed to change only slightly with growth, like in S. atra aurorae .
The sexual dimorphism is very slight. Like in other subspecies of S. atra , the cloacal region is usually swollen in the adult males.
Salamandra atra pasubiensis lives only on the Pasubio massif, in the Venetian Prealps, Northeast Italy. All documented and reliable records are from two adjacent small valleys on the southern slope of the massif, and refer most probably to a single population. The known area of occupancy is less than 2 km2 and the altitudinal range is 1450–1800 m. [2]
There are a few other reports of alpine salamanders from other parts on the Pasubio massif and from the nearby Carega massif, but all these records are unconfirmed. [2]
The rocky, steep valleys inhabited by S. atra pasubiensis are only marginally exploited for wood harvesting and cattle pasture, and are visited almost only by hikers and hunters. Therefore, S. atra pasubiensis is not threatened directly by human activities, but the narrow extent and the isolation of the suitable habitat increases vulnerability in the face of the general climatic trend. [3]
According to regional assessments following IUCN criteria, S. atra pasubiensis has been considered as Endangered (EN), under criterion D1, because it seems to be present in a single site, the population size could be less than 250 individuals and it is threatened by the general climatic trend. [3] [4] [5]
The single known population of S. atra pasubiensis is in the Veneto Region, specifically in the Province of Vicenza. It is entirely in the Natura 2000 site IT3210040 “Monti Lessini - Pasubio - Piccole Dolomiti Vicentine”.
Salamandra atra pasubiensis is not considered in the EU Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC because it was unknown at the time.
After a few uncertain or undocumented reports, the presence of a differentiated population of S. atra on the Pasubio massif was eventually confirmed in 1999. [6] This population has been named as a distinct subspecies in 2005, because it is chromatically and genetically differentiated from both S. atra atra and S. atra aurorae, and geographically separated from the remaining species range. [7] The type locality is “Val Fontana d'Oro” and the holotype has been deposited in the Zoological Museum La Specola in Florence. [7]
The smooth newt, European newt, northern smooth newt or common newt is a species of newt. It is widespread in Europe and parts of Asia, and has been introduced into Australia. Individuals are brown with a spotted underside that ranges in color from orange to white. They reach an average length of 8–11 cm (3.1–4.3 in); males are larger than females. The newts' skins are dry and velvety when they are living on land, but become smooth when they migrate into the water to breed. Males develop a more vivid colour pattern and a conspicuous skin seam (crest) on their back when breeding.
The red-backed salamander is a small, hardy woodland salamander species in the family Plethodontidae. It is also known as the redback salamander, eastern red-backed salamander, or the northern red-backed salamander to distinguish it from the southern red-backed salamander. The species inhabits wooded slopes in eastern North America, west to Missouri, south to North Carolina, and north from southern Quebec and the Maritime provinces in Canada to Minnesota. It is one of 56 species in the genus Plethodon. Red-backed salamanders are notable for their color polymorphism and primarily display two color morph varieties, which differ in physiology and anti-predator behavior.
The fire salamander is a common species of salamander found in Europe.
The olm or proteus is an aquatic salamander which is the only species in the genus Proteus of the family Proteidae and the only exclusively cave-dwelling chordate species found in Europe; the family's other extant genus is Necturus. In contrast to most amphibians, it is entirely aquatic, eating, sleeping, and breeding underwater. Living in caves found in the Dinaric Alps, it is endemic to the waters that flow underground through the extensive limestone bedrock of the karst of Central and Southeastern Europe in the basin of the Soča River near Trieste, Italy, southwestern Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Introduced populations are found near Vicenza, Italy, and Kranj, Slovenia. It was first mentioned in 1689 by the local naturalist Valvasor in his Glory of the Duchy of Carniola, who reported that, after heavy rains, the olms were washed up from the underground waters and were believed by local people to be a cave dragon's offspring.
Melanism is the congenital excess of melanin in an organism resulting in dark pigment.
Bassano del Grappa is a city and comune, in the Vicenza province, in the region of Veneto, in northern Italy. It bounds the communes of Cassola, Marostica, Solagna, Pove del Grappa, Romano d'Ezzelino, Campolongo sul Brenta, Conco, Rosà, Cartigliano and Nove. Some neighbourhoods of these communes have become in practice a part of the urban area of Bassano, so that the population of the whole conurbation totals around 70,000 people.
The alpine salamander is a black salamander that can be found in the French Alps, and through the mountainous range in Europe. It is a member of the genus Salamandra. Their species name, atra, may be derived from the Latin ater, meaning dull black. The salamanders' coloration has evolved over time, as some species are completely monochrome black and others have yellow spotting and marks. Their life expectancy is at least 10 years. There are four subspecies of the alpine salamander, with varied distribution and physical coloration. Unlike other salamanders, whose larvae are developed in water, the alpine salamander and its subspecies are a fully terrestrial species in life and gestation. They give birth to live young.
The alpine newt is a species of newt native to continental Europe and introduced to Great Britain and New Zealand. Adults measure 7–12 cm (2.8–4.7 in) and are usually dark grey to blue on the back and sides, with an orange belly and throat. Males are more conspicuously coloured than the drab females, especially during breeding season.
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Monte Grappa is a mountain of the Venetian Prealps in Veneto, Italy. It lies between the Venetian plain to the south and the central alpine areas to the North. To the west, it is parted from the Asiago upland by the Brenta river, and to the east it is separated from the Cesen-Visentin massif by the Piave river. To the north lie Corlo lake and Feltre valley. In the past, the mountain was called Alpe Madre, and is currently divided among three provinces: Vicenza to the west, Treviso to the south and Belluno to the northeast. It is the highest peak of a small massif, which also includes many other peaks such as Col Moschin, Colle della Berretta, Monte Asolone, Monte Pertica, Prassolan, Monti Solaroli, Fontana Secca, Monte Peurna, Monte Santo, Monte Tomatico, Meatte, Monte Pallon, and Monte Tomba.
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Lyciasalamandra flavimembris, the Marmaris Lycian salamander or Marmaris salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is endemic to Turkey and is found along the southwestern Anatolian coast between Marmaris and Ula. It was first described as subspecies of Mertensiella luschani, now Lyciasalamandra luschani.
Luschan's salamander or Lycian salamander is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is found in the southwestern Anatolia in Turkey and adjacent Greece, in the island of Kastellorizo and its satellites.
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