The southern marbled newt or pygmy marbled newt (Triturus pygmaeus) is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is found in Portugal and Spain. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, arable land, pastureland, rural gardens, water storage areas, ponds, open excavations, irrigated land, canals and ditches. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Previously thought to be a subspecies of the marbled newt (Triturus marmoratus), it was raised to species level after genetic studies revealed its distinctiveness from the former.[2]
The southern marbled newt occurs only in southern Portugal and southwestern Spain, in Mediterranean climate. The Douro–Tagus watershed forms a narrow, northern border to the range of Triturus marmoratus.[3]
Descriptionedit
The southern marbled newt is similar in appearance to the marbled newt but is smaller, with adults reaching a total length of 13 centimetres (5.1 in) as against the latter's 17 centimetres (6.7 in). The dorsal surface is yellowish-green heavily mottled with irregular patches of dark brown or black, and there is a thin orange line running along the spine from head to tip of tail, although this stripe fades somewhat in adult males. The underparts are creamy-white with dark spots which distinguishes this species from the marbled newt with its dark underparts. Breeding males have a wavy, black-barred crest running from the head tail tip, but this has no indentation between body and tail.[4]
Statusedit
The southern marbled newt lives in oak woodland and uses ponds, ditches and other water bodies for breeding. Its habitat is being degraded by urbanization and the loss of temporary water bodies. Another threat to the species is the introduction of crayfish and non-native fish and the pollution of its breeding sites. As a result, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its status as being "near threatened".[1]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Triturus pygmaeus.
^ abJan Willem Arntzen, Pedro Beja, Jaime Bosch, Miguel Tejedo, Miguel Lizana, Robert Jehle, Iñigo Martínez-Solano, Alfredo Salvador, Mario García-París, Ernesto Recuero Gil, Rafael Marquez, Paulo Sá-Sousa, Carmen Diaz Paniagua (2009). Triturus pygmaeus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2.
^García-París, Mario; Arano, Begona; Herrero, Pilar (2001). "Molecular characterization of the contact zone between Triturus pygmaeus and T. marmoratus (Caudata: Salamandridae) in Central Spain and their taxonomic assessment" (PDF). Rev Esp Herpetol. 15: 115–126. hdl:10261/53967.
^Zuiderwijk A. (2004). "Triturus marmoratus (Latreille, 1800)". In Gasc J-P, Cabela A, Crnobrnja-Isailovic J, et al. (eds.). Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe. Paris: Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. pp. 82–83. ISBN2-85653-574-7.
^Arnold, E. Nicholas; Ovenden, Denys W. (2002). Field Guide: Reptiles & Amphibians of Britain & Europe. Collins & Co. p. 42. ISBN9780002199643.
December 15, 2023
southern, marbled, newt, southern, marbled, newt, pygmy, marbled, newt, triturus, pygmaeus, species, salamander, family, salamandridae, found, portugal, spain, natural, habitats, temperate, forests, mediterranean, type, shrubby, vegetation, rivers, intermitten. The southern marbled newt or pygmy marbled newt Triturus pygmaeus is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae It is found in Portugal and Spain Its natural habitats are temperate forests Mediterranean type shrubby vegetation rivers intermittent rivers freshwater marshes intermittent freshwater marshes arable land pastureland rural gardens water storage areas ponds open excavations irrigated land canals and ditches It is threatened by habitat loss Southern marbled newtConservation statusNear Threatened IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AmphibiaOrder UrodelaFamily SalamandridaeGenus TriturusSpecies T pygmaeusBinomial nameTriturus pygmaeusWolterstorff 1905Previously thought to be a subspecies of the marbled newt Triturus marmoratus it was raised to species level after genetic studies revealed its distinctiveness from the former 2 Contents 1 Distribution 2 Description 3 Status 4 ReferencesDistribution editThe southern marbled newt occurs only in southern Portugal and southwestern Spain in Mediterranean climate The Douro Tagus watershed forms a narrow northern border to the range of Triturus marmoratus 3 Description editThe southern marbled newt is similar in appearance to the marbled newt but is smaller with adults reaching a total length of 13 centimetres 5 1 in as against the latter s 17 centimetres 6 7 in The dorsal surface is yellowish green heavily mottled with irregular patches of dark brown or black and there is a thin orange line running along the spine from head to tip of tail although this stripe fades somewhat in adult males The underparts are creamy white with dark spots which distinguishes this species from the marbled newt with its dark underparts Breeding males have a wavy black barred crest running from the head tail tip but this has no indentation between body and tail 4 Status editThe southern marbled newt lives in oak woodland and uses ponds ditches and other water bodies for breeding Its habitat is being degraded by urbanization and the loss of temporary water bodies Another threat to the species is the introduction of crayfish and non native fish and the pollution of its breeding sites As a result the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its status as being near threatened 1 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Triturus pygmaeus a b Jan Willem Arntzen Pedro Beja Jaime Bosch Miguel Tejedo Miguel Lizana Robert Jehle Inigo Martinez Solano Alfredo Salvador Mario Garcia Paris Ernesto Recuero Gil Rafael Marquez Paulo Sa Sousa Carmen Diaz Paniagua 2009 Triturus pygmaeus In IUCN 2012 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Version 2012 2 Garcia Paris Mario Arano Begona Herrero Pilar 2001 Molecular characterization of the contact zone between Triturus pygmaeus and T marmoratus Caudata Salamandridae in Central Spain and their taxonomic assessment PDF Rev Esp Herpetol 15 115 126 hdl 10261 53967 Zuiderwijk A 2004 Triturus marmoratus Latreille 1800 In Gasc J P Cabela A Crnobrnja Isailovic J et al eds Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe Paris Museum national d Histoire naturelle pp 82 83 ISBN 2 85653 574 7 Arnold E Nicholas Ovenden Denys W 2002 Field Guide Reptiles amp Amphibians of Britain amp Europe Collins amp Co p 42 ISBN 9780002199643 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Southern marbled newt amp oldid 1135354136, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
