Luschan's Salamander

Luschan's Salamander
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Caudata
Family: Salamandridae
Genus: Lyciasalamandra
Species: L. luschani
Binomial name
Lyciasalamandra luschani
(Steindachner, 1891)
Synonyms

Molge luschani Steindachner, 1891
Mertensiella luschani - Wolterstorff, 1925
Salamandra luschani - Arnold & Burton, 1978
Lyciasalamandra luschani - Veith & Steinfartz, 2004

Luschan's Salamander or the Lycian Salamander (Lyciasalamandra luschani) is a species of salamander in the Salamandridae family.

Contents

Geographic range

It is found in Greece and Turkey.

Description

Luschan's salamander is brown with small yellow dots dorsally, yellow or whitish laterally, and flesh-colored ventrally. The eyes are prominent, as are the narrow paratoid glands. The tail is thin. Males have a protruding "spike" at the base of the tail on the dorsal surface. Adults may grow to 13 cm (5⅛ inches) total length.[1]

Habitat

Its natural habitats are temperate forests and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation.

Conservation status

It is threatened by habitat loss.

Subspecies[2]

References

  1. ^ Arnold, E.N and J.A. Burton. 1978. A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. Collins. London.
  2. ^ Veith, Michael & Sebastian Steinfartz. 2004. When non-monophyly results in taxonomic consequences -- the case of Mertensiella within the Salamandridae (Amphibia: Urodela). Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde. 40(1):67-80.