Corsican fire salamander
Corsican fire salamander ( Salamandra corsica )
The Corsican fire salamander ( Salamandra corsica ) is a species of amphibian in the family of Real salamander. The endemic only to the island of Corsica occurring salamander was first described in 1838 by the Italian scientist Gaetano Savi ( 1769-1844 ). Until recent years, the Corsican fire salamander was still regarded as a subspecies of the European fire salamander Salamandra salamandra and addressed as Salamandra salamandra corsica. With regard to the development and dissemination of the herpetofauna of the Tyrrhenian islands, the question arises why this type exists only in Corsica.
Features
Adult females reach considerable body lengths of up to 22 centimeters. The predominantly black colored top is interrupted by irregularly distributed yellow spots, which may be nearly circular pronounced occasionally. Overall Corsican fire salamander act stockier than their Central European relatives. The extremities of the animals seem shorter and the toes stronger - a clear indication of increased grave lifestyle. Observations show a retreat of the animals in deeper soil layers during long dry periods. What is striking is the wide head with well-developed parotid glands. The yellow spots on the eyelids and ear glands sometimes exhibit S-shaped line structures.
Habitat
Corsican fire salamander prefer to live in the rainy mountain forests of the island. On the west coast there are deposits only slightly above sea level ( " Calanche de Piana " between Porto and Piana), are typically Corsican Fire Salamander likely to be found in upland habitats. But even in the lee position on Tavignano in Corte immediately below the citadel come Corsican Fire Salamander at about 430 m above sea level. MSL. In the vast slopes and ravines forests of fuzz and sessile oak are found mainly siedlungsnah many neat chestnut - chestnut groves, which represent a typical salamander habitat. Forests too dense undergrowth such as with bracken and tree heath (Erica arborea ) are not avoided, but probably not densely populated. Deeper holm oak forests are sparsely populated, here are the precipitation conditions and the microclimate are often too unfavorable. Beech forests are populated by the Corsican fire salamander rather in the eastern part of the island ( for example Castagniccia, as the beech on the island in the Luv -layer forms the upper end of the mountain forest. Prevail here outside the summer months often almost subalpine conditions that tends to avoid the Corsican fire salamander.
The middle layers of Corsica have a typical mountain climate, which are characterized by relatively low temperatures and frequent rainfall. Also the coming of the high mountains melt water makes up in the summer months in a cool, clean spring water that accumulates in numerous potholes and creates ideal Larvallebensräume for the Corsican fire salamander. Particularly in the area of small streams are often found shaded boulders that provide the salamanders good days hiding places.
Reproductive strategies
In Restonica Valley of the herpetologist Robert Mertens found on approximately 1000 m above sea level. NN a pregnant female that gave birth to four kittens that were gilled. Also, they already had a strong body coloration, so that they almost resembled the adult salamander. However, Mertens found in nearby waters also gill -bearing, only aquatil living salamander larvae with the inconspicuous Larvalfärbung. Such Viviparie is in the extended family known by a north- western Spanish subspecies of the fire salamander ( Salamandra salamandra bernardezi ) and the Alpine Salamander ( Salamandra atra), and can be regarded as an adaptation to xerothermes climate and related water poverty.
Endangering
Due to the low population density of Corsica large parts of the rugged hillside forests have been little influenced by the people, so that the resident Salamandra corsica populations are still classified as unthreatened. Dangers threaten amphibians occasionally by artificial fish stocking in the headwaters of streams and rivers and through forestry measures, such as the construction of forest and hiking trails. Local can affect soil erosion caused the habitats of the salamander water pollution as well as pets in free-running (pigs, goats).
Synonyms
- Salamandra moncherina ( Bonaparte, 1839)
- Salamandra maculosa var corsica Bedriaga, 1883
- Salamandra moncheriana Schreiber, 1912
- Salamandra salamandra corsica Nikolsky, 1918