Almanzor Fire Salamander - Citizen Conservation

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Salamandra salamandra almanzoris

Almanzor Fire Salamander

Citizen Conservation / Almanzor Fire Salamander

Spain, Sierra de Gredos, 2000 meters above sea level. A barren mountain landscape, stark granite boulders, patches of grass, lakes. This isn’t a typical fire salamander habitat. In most of Europe, these amphibians live in forests. Nevertheless, the fire salamander has managed to adapt to these harsh mountain conditions. This adaptation has made the salamander into something very special – its own subspecies: the Almanzor fire salamander.

Fire Salamander Subspecies

The fire salamander is common across Europe and has split into approximately 14 subspecies. The Salamandra salamandra almanzoris inhabits a large area of Central and Eastern Europe. | Benny Trapp — The fire salamander is common across Europe and has split into approximately 14 subspecies. The *Salamandra salamandra almanzoris* inhabits a large area of Central and Eastern Europe. | Benny Trapp

Salamandra salamandra terrestris inhabits large areas of the western part of Central Europe. | Benny Trapp — *Salamandra salamandra terrestris* inhabits large areas of the western part of Central Europe. | Benny Trapp

Salamandra salamandra giglioli only occurs in the Calabria region of Italy. | Benny Trapp — *Salamandra salamandra giglioli* only occurs in the Calabria region of Italy. | Benny Trapp

Salamandra salamandra alfredschmidti from Asturias, Spain. | Benny Trapp — *Salamandra salamandra alfredschmidti* from Asturias, Spain. | Benny Trapp

Salamandra salamandra fastuosa from the northwest of Spain. | Benny Trapp — *Salamandra salamandra fastuosa* from the northwest of Spain. | Benny Trapp

Salamandra salamandra galaica inhabits the western part of the Iberian Peninsula. | Benny Trapp — *Salamandra salamandra galaica* inhabits the western part of the Iberian Peninsula. | Benny Trapp

With so much variety, it can be difficult to draw clear boundaries: nowadays, Salamandra salamandra beschkovi from Bulgaria is generally no longer recognized as a separate subspecies. | Benny Trapp — With so much variety, it can be difficult to draw clear boundaries: nowadays, *Salamandra salamandra beschkovi* from Bulgaria is generally no longer recognized as a separate subspecies. | Benny Trapp

An amphibian makes it to the top

The Almanzor Fire Salamander lives only in the mountain ranges of the Sierra de Gredos, the neighboring Sierra de Guadarrama, and Sierra de San Vincente, which lie to the west and north of the capital Madrid. With a length of about 13 centimeters, the animals are among the smaller fire salamanders. They also have the typical yellow and black warning colors that signal to predators: “Do not eat me – I’m poisonous!” However, their yellow spots are far less prominent than those of other salamanders. This might be an adaptation to the high altitude: more black means more solar energy can be absorbed.

The fire salamanders’ whole way of life is characterized by their cool environment. No other fire salamanders live so far up. The winters here are long: only in May or even June do the salamanders reappear from hibernation. They then don’t have much time to do what fire salamanders do: eat snails and worms, find a partner, and reproduce. The frost already returns in November.

Habitat of the Almanzor Fire Salamander

The Sierra de Gredos does not look like the typical forest biotope of the fire salamander. | Philip Gerhardt

The Almanzor fire salamanders use the mountain lakes and streams to deposit their larvae. | Philip Gerhardt

Almanzor larvae in their natural habitat. | Philip Gerhardt

Not even here does nature remain untouched – free-roaming cattle affect the high mountain habitat. | Philip Gerhardt

According to the Red List, the Almanzor fire salamander is considered “endangered” in Spain. This sign explains that the amphibians only occur here. | Philip Gerhardt

Small streams run through the mountains. The salamanders use them to deposit their larvae. | Philip Gerhardt

Almanzor Fire Salamander. | Philip Gerhardt

The unique birth of the larvae

Fire salamanders are the only salamanders that give birth to live larvae and directly deposit them in the water. The Almanzor fire salamander’s larvae stay in the water for a particularly long time due to the low temperatures. They usually hibernate there. This explains their uncommonly large size – up to nine centimeters. Unlike other fire salamanders, they already display the typical black and yellow colors while they are still living in the water as large larvae.

The Almanzor fire salamander’s larvae stay in the water for a particularly long time and grow quite large

Fire salamander larvae. | Benny Trapp

Danger lurks in the background

The idyllic landscapes are deceiving: as undisturbed as the Almanzor Fire Salamander’s home looks, free grazing animals are causing the degradation of this habitat. Because of this, and because they only live in such a small area, they are considered threatened according to the Spanish Red List. But another threat lurks in the background: a deadly salamander-killing fungus that was recently discovered in the Netherlands is currently spreading rapidly and can quickly eradicate entire populations. It is terrible to think what would happen if the fungus reached the Spanish mountains …

Philip Gerhardt breeding larvae for Citizen Conservation. | Benny Trapp, Frogs & Friends

A Safe Retreat

To ensure that this particular salamander subspecies survives, even if this disaster reaches their homeland, the participants of Citizen Conservation #Amphibians are helping breed stable populations in human captivity. This fire salamander is suitable for amateur breeders because fortunately, it reproduces quickly and can be kept in normal terrarium conditions.

Basic Information on Biology and Breeding

A robust form, suitable for inexperienced breeders. They are best kept in 100 x 50 cm terrariums with good ventilation, newspapers on the ground, a “wet box,” a bowl of water, and lots of hiding places. No more than 26 °C in the summer, 2–3 months of hibernation at 4–12 °C in the winter. The salamanders eat earthworms, house crickets, etc. Larvae are raised in a cold water aquarium and eat water fleas.

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