A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE

We look at the diverse species and subspecies known as the ‘fire salamanders’ and how they have developed to withstand dramatic landscapes.

Shrouded in myths and folklore for their seemingly supernatural tendencies to emerge from the flames of bonfires, the natural history of fire salamanders reads like a medieval epic. Populations of this myth-shrouded amphibian were stranded upon mountain tops across Europe as the ice from the last ice age melted. This has created some of the most interesting cases of speciation and subspeciation seen within European herpetofauna.

Speciation and subspeciation

With such a rich tapestry of morphologically and phylogenetically distinct species and subspecies across the continent and well into neighbouring Russia and Africa, understanding the evolutionary history of fire salamanders is particularly interesting. Being temperate amphibians that thrive in cooler climates, populations were isolated following the end of the last ice age. Once a widespread species, as the climate changed and habitats became less hospitable for these salamanders, individual populations were isolated at high altitudes where the climate is cooler. This is particularly apparent in the various species that are found throughout Spain, Portugal and the Middle East. In the warmer climates, each mountain range can be populated by an entirely new species.

The breeding habits of these salamanders also varies greatly depending on the conditions in which they are reproducing. Salamanders that are exposed to temporary pools of water, such as in warmer climates, will often produce fully formed terrestrial offspring. Those from cooler climates with reliable water sources will birth their tadpoles much earlier, allowing them to metamorphose on their own. This is because the eggs are incubated within the mother’s body until it is time for them to hatch. Larger bodied females can also carry more eggs, for a longer period of time, also assisting in the speciation of fire salamanders. There are also populations that exhibit both breeding strategies and individual females have been know to produce tadpoles and fullyformed young in different years.

Subspecies

SALAMANDRA SALAMANDRA TERRESTRIS

This species is found across a huge area of France, Germany and Belgium, that includes the Rhone valley and Loire valley. Interestingly, these two populations have distinct morphological differences. The individuals from the Rhone valley are generally more robust animals with a heavier build. This species is sometimes called the ‘barred’ fire salamander and has a ‘Solling’ form which is one of the most sought-after of all fire salamanders and can exhibit tri-colour patterns. This form metamorphoses with red patterns that later turn yellow or remain red as the individual grows.

SALAMANDRA

SALAMANDRA FASTUOSA

This subspecies is a small to medium sized salamander that can be found across the French and Spanish Pyrenees mountains. Sometimes referred to as the ‘striped’ fire salamander, they typically exhibit pure and clean stripes that extend the entire length of the torso. They will produce mostly tadpoles but have been known to birth fully formed young too.

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SALAMANDRA BEJARAE

Initially thought to be spread across the entirety of Spain, distribution has been chipped down as new subspecies have been described. Bejarae is a moderately large species. Markings generally don’t follow a particular pattern, they can be blotches of yellow in various shapes as opposed to the more common spots or stripes observed in other subspecies.

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SALAMANDRA MORENICA

Occurs across the Sierra Marina in South Central Spain. Their distribution is a long narrow strip that follows the mountain range. It is highly possible that the two extremes of the range may produce even more subspecies that are yet to be described to science. Once considered bejarae Beautiful large growing salamander that produces tadpoles.