Alpine salamander

Alpine salamander
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Salamandridae
Genus: Salamandra
Species:
S. atra
Binomial name
Salamandra atra
Laurenti, 1768

The alpine salamander (Salamandra atra) is a black salamander that can be found in the French Alps, and through the mountainous range in Europe.[2] It is a member of the genus Salamandra. Their species name, atra, may be derived from the Latin ater, meaning dull black.[3] The salamanders' coloration has evolved over time, as some species are completely monochrome black and others have yellow spotting and marks.[4][5][6][7] Their life expectancy is at least 10 years. There are four subspecies of the alpine salamander, with varied distribution and physical coloration.[8] Unlike other salamanders, whose larvae are developed in water, the alpine salamander and its subspecies are a fully terrestrial species in life and gestation.[8] They give birth to live young.[9]

Alpine salamanders produce toxic compounds from their skin.[8] These compounds may protect them from both predator and microbial threats.[10][11][12][13]

  1. ^ IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2022). "Salamandra atra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T19843A89706038. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T19843A89706038.en. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Salamandre noire unique - La Salamandre". Archived from the original on 2020-07-02.
  3. ^ "Atra meaning in English » DictZone Latin-English dictionary". dictzone.com. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Burgon-2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bonato-2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Salamandre noir". Karch.Ch (Swiss information center for amphibians and reptiles). Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference TREVISAN-1991 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c DE MEESTER, Gilles; ŠUNJE, Emina; PRINSEN, Els; VERBRUGGEN, Erik; VAN DAMME, Raoul (2020-10-13). "Toxin variation among salamander populations: discussing potential causes and future directions". Integrative Zoology. 16 (3): 336–353. doi:10.1111/1749-4877.12492. hdl:10067/1718680151162165141. ISSN 1749-4877. PMID 32965720. S2CID 221862886.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Guex-1986 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lüddecke-2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Vences-2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference Scalera-2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference Spitzen - van der Sluijs-2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).