The Corsican fire salamander (Salamandra corsica) is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae found only on the island of Corsica as an endemic species. In former times, this species was known as a subspecies of the widespread but continental-distributed fire salamander, which may appear quite similar.
Salamandra corsica are glossy black salamanders with yellow splotches on their dorsum that have adult sizes ranging from 120 - 300 mm. Males are generally smaller than females. The head is wider than it is long, and is rounded in shape. This species possess bright yellow colored paratoid glands and two lines of poison glands that run in parallel down their ventral sides, and two irregular rows of glands down the tail. The snout and toes are blunt and round, as is the tip of the tail. Males have pronounced cloacas, whose opening is a single longitudinal fold. Salamandra corsica has clear costal grooves running down the ventral sides. These salamanders have smooth, shiny skin, and easily visible yet reduced paratoid glands compared to other species in the Salamandra genus.[2]
Habitatedit
Map of distributionDeciduous mountain forests near Monte Cinto - habitat of Salamandra corsica
The Corsican fire salamander mainly lives in the deciduous mountain forests of the island. On the west coast near in the Calanques de Piana, salamanders have been found near sea level, but in general they appear as inhabitant of forests with deciduous oaks, such as sessile oak, downy oak and sweet chestnut gardens near the human settlements. Forests with the maritime pine and the Corsican black pine (Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii var. corsicana) are also inhabited. Densely growing ferns (Pteridium aquilinum), tree heath, and other shrubby vegetation might diminish the fire salamander population, also as evergreensclerophyllic woods, such as holly oak forests because of their minor precipitation sum. Beech forests are populated in the Castagniccia and also in the south of the island where this tree assembles dense azonal forests and does not appear mainly as upper tree line, as in the western mountain ranges of Corsica.
The midranges of the Corsican mountains seem to be preferred because of their constant humidity and moderate temperatures. Constant water in the creeks coming down from the summits supports good development of the larvae over the hot summer. They are born when the snow has melted away and the streams are safe again for the newborn larvae. Their surroundings and stone runs also offer the adults preferred places to hide from the daylight or the summer drought.
Unexpected ways of reproductionedit
The German herpetologistRobert Mertens found a pregnant Corsican fire salamander in the Restonica Valley that gave birth to four offspring without gills and already with the characteristic black and yellow of the adults. At the same time, he found normally developing aquatic larvae with their three characteristic feathery external gills on each side of their heads and camouflage blending into the pond's substrate. The reproductive ability of viviparity is well known from the fire salamander's northwest Spanish subspecies, S. s. bernardezi (Asturian fire salamander) and the alpine salamander (S. atra) from the central and east Alps. This can be interpreted as a local adaptation to xerothermic climate conditions and lack of ponds and brooks.
Threatsedit
The Corsican fire salamander is threatened by habitat loss, forest works, road construction, and traffic. The species may also be threatened by water pollution, wildfires, and wood pasture. Introducing invasive fish species, such as rainbow trout in the larval habitats diminishes the reproduction of the island's fire salamanders significantly. Indigenous anadromous fish, such as the Mediterranean trout Salmo cettii, which is also highly endangered, seems not to have a significant influence on the amphibians.
Referencesedit
^IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2022). "Salamandra corsica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T59465A89706239. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T59465A89706239.en. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
Michel Delaugerre; Marc Cheylan (1992). Atlas de Repartition des Batraciens et Reptiles de Corse. L'Oikéma Pamplona (Spain): Parc Naturel Regional de Corse/Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes. ISBN2-905468-09-2.
Robert Mertens: Die Amphibien und Reptilien Korsikas – Senckenberg. Biol. 38 (1957, Heft 3/4): 175–192|location=Frankfurt/M.
Thomas Mutz: Salamandra corsica (Savi, 1838) – Korsischer Feuersalamander. – In: Burkhard Thiesmeier & Kurt Grossenbacher (Eds.): Handbuch der Reptilien und Amphibien Europas, Schwanzlurche IIB. Aula Verlag Wiebelsheim (Germany), 2004, p. 1029–1046.
Willi Wolterstorff (1901). Streifzüge durch Corsika. Magdeburg: Faber’sche Buchdruckerei. p. 35.
External linksedit
Media related to Salamandra corsica at Wikimedia Commons
Corsican salamander
April 12, 2024
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The Corsican fire salamander Salamandra corsica is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae found only on the island of Corsica as an endemic species In former times this species was known as a subspecies of the widespread but continental distributed fire salamander which may appear quite similar Corsican fire salamanderConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AmphibiaOrder UrodelaFamily SalamandridaeGenus SalamandraSpecies S corsicaBinomial nameSalamandra corsicaSavi 1838SynonymsSalamandra salamandra ssp corsica Savi 1838 Contents 1 Description 2 Habitat 3 Unexpected ways of reproduction 4 Threats 5 References 6 External linksDescription editSalamandra corsica are glossy black salamanders with yellow splotches on their dorsum that have adult sizes ranging from 120 300 mm Males are generally smaller than females The head is wider than it is long and is rounded in shape This species possess bright yellow colored paratoid glands and two lines of poison glands that run in parallel down their ventral sides and two irregular rows of glands down the tail The snout and toes are blunt and round as is the tip of the tail Males have pronounced cloacas whose opening is a single longitudinal fold Salamandra corsica has clear costal grooves running down the ventral sides These salamanders have smooth shiny skin and easily visible yet reduced paratoid glands compared to other species in the Salamandra genus 2 Habitat edit nbsp Map of distribution nbsp Deciduous mountain forests near Monte Cinto habitat of Salamandra corsicaThe Corsican fire salamander mainly lives in the deciduous mountain forests of the island On the west coast near in the Calanques de Piana salamanders have been found near sea level but in general they appear as inhabitant of forests with deciduous oaks such as sessile oak downy oak and sweet chestnut gardens near the human settlements Forests with the maritime pine and the Corsican black pine Pinus nigra subsp salzmannii var corsicana are also inhabited Densely growing ferns Pteridium aquilinum tree heath and other shrubby vegetation might diminish the fire salamander population also as evergreen sclerophyllic woods such as holly oak forests because of their minor precipitation sum Beech forests are populated in the Castagniccia and also in the south of the island where this tree assembles dense azonal forests and does not appear mainly as upper tree line as in the western mountain ranges of Corsica The midranges of the Corsican mountains seem to be preferred because of their constant humidity and moderate temperatures Constant water in the creeks coming down from the summits supports good development of the larvae over the hot summer They are born when the snow has melted away and the streams are safe again for the newborn larvae Their surroundings and stone runs also offer the adults preferred places to hide from the daylight or the summer drought Unexpected ways of reproduction editThe German herpetologist Robert Mertens found a pregnant Corsican fire salamander in the Restonica Valley that gave birth to four offspring without gills and already with the characteristic black and yellow of the adults At the same time he found normally developing aquatic larvae with their three characteristic feathery external gills on each side of their heads and camouflage blending into the pond s substrate The reproductive ability of viviparity is well known from the fire salamander s northwest Spanish subspecies S s bernardezi Asturian fire salamander and the alpine salamander S atra from the central and east Alps This can be interpreted as a local adaptation to xerothermic climate conditions and lack of ponds and brooks Threats editThe Corsican fire salamander is threatened by habitat loss forest works road construction and traffic The species may also be threatened by water pollution wildfires and wood pasture Introducing invasive fish species such as rainbow trout in the larval habitats diminishes the reproduction of the island s fire salamanders significantly Indigenous anadromous fish such as the Mediterranean trout Salmo cettii which is also highly endangered seems not to have a significant influence on the amphibians References edit IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2022 Salamandra corsica IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022 e T59465A89706239 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2022 1 RLTS T59465A89706239 en Retrieved 21 October 2023 Salamandra corsica Michel Delaugerre Marc Cheylan 1992 Atlas de Repartition des Batraciens et Reptiles de Corse L Oikema Pamplona Spain Parc Naturel Regional de Corse Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes ISBN 2 905468 09 2 Robert Mertens Die Amphibien und Reptilien Korsikas Senckenberg Biol 38 1957 Heft 3 4 175 192 location Frankfurt M Thomas Mutz Salamandra corsica Savi 1838 Korsischer Feuersalamander In Burkhard Thiesmeier amp Kurt Grossenbacher Eds Handbuch der Reptilien und Amphibien Europas Schwanzlurche IIB Aula Verlag Wiebelsheim Germany 2004 p 1029 1046 Willi Wolterstorff 1901 Streifzuge durch Corsika Magdeburg Faber sche Buchdruckerei p 35 External links edit nbsp Media related to Salamandra corsica at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Corsican salamander Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Corsican fire salamander amp oldid 1181197146, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
