Central European Fire Salamander

90 breeders | 330 animals

CC Goal

Salamandra salamandra salamandra und Salamandra salamandra terrestris

Central European Fire Salamander

Citizen Conservation / Central European Fire Salamander

With its black and yellow coloration and stately size of up to about 20 centimeters, the fire salamander is one of the best known and most charismatic amphibians in Europe. In Central Europe, it is a typical inhabitant of beech and mixed deciduous forests. Although it has been affected by habitat changes and environmental pollution, its population has not yet been considered endangered. However, a sudden new threat now raises fears for the future of this characteristic species, for which Germany bears a special responsibility.

The salamander plague

Symbolic: fire salamander perished from bsal at Essen's Southwest Cemetery | Miguel Vences — Symbolic: fire salamander perished from *bsal* at Essen's Southwest Cemetery | Miguel Vences

The fungus causes mass mortality in fire salamanders, as seen here in a forest near Remscheid, Germany | Rainer Stawikowski

The salamander-eating fungus literally eats holes in the animals' skin.| Miguel Vences

Highly Bsal infected fire salamander - here you can see the disease with the naked eye. | Miguel Vences — Highly *Bsal* infected fire salamander - here you can see the disease with the naked eye. | Miguel Vences

In the early stage, Bsal cannot be detected visually. Therefore, skin swabs are taken and tested for the fungus using PCR analysis. Such tests are also routinely performed in the stocks at Citizen Conservation to prevent the spread of the disease. | Miguel Vences — In the early stage, *Bsal* cannot be detected visually. Therefore, skin swabs are taken and tested for the fungus using PCR analysis. Such tests are also routinely performed in the stocks at Citizen Conservation to prevent the spread of the disease. | Miguel Vences

Sad certainty: PCR result positive for Bsal | Miguel Vences — Sad certainty: PCR result positive for *Bsal* | Miguel Vences

In nature, there is no longer any hope for fire salamanders infested with bsal. In human care, the animals can often be saved with heat treatment, as here in Nuremberg Zoo. | Jörg Beckmann, Tiergarten Nürnberg — In nature, there is no longer any hope for fire salamanders infested with *bsal*. In human care, the animals can often be saved with heat treatment, as here in Nuremberg Zoo. | Jörg Beckmann, Tiergarten Nürnberg

Saved! Fire salamander cured by heat treatment of Bsal in Nuremberg Zoo | Jörg Beckmann, Tiergarten Nürnberg — Saved! Fire salamander cured by heat treatment of *Bsal* in Nuremberg Zoo | Jörg Beckmann, Tiergarten Nürnberg

The salamander eating fungus

When numerous dead fire salamanders were suddenly found in an apparently undisturbed habitat in the Netherlands between 2008 and 2011, researchers were initially baffled. An entire, very well-studied population had been wiped out in a short period of time. Finally, the culprit was tracked down, scientifically described in 2013 – and given the self-explanatory name Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, or Bsal for short, which translates as salamander-eating fungus.

Diversity of Central European Fire Salamanders

Salamandra s. terrestris from the Krupp Forest near Essen, Germany | Miguel Vences — *Salamandra s. terrestris* from the Krupp Forest near Essen, Germany | Miguel Vences

Salamandra s. terrestris from the Harz | Miguel Vences — *Salamandra s. terrestris* from the Harz | Miguel Vences

No two fire salamanders are alike. Here a Salamandra s. terrestris from Wuppertal .... | Benny Trapp — No two fire salamanders are alike. Here a *Salamandra s. terrestris* from Wuppertal .... | Benny Trapp

... and another animal: the animals can be reliably distinguished by their yellow spots and stripes, like a human fingerprint. | Benny Trapp

In addition to the individual ones, there are also regional differences. In Solling, there are particularly many fire salamanders (Salamandra s. terrestris) with a high proportion of yellow. | Miguel Vences — In addition to the individual ones, there are also regional differences. In Solling, there are particularly many fire salamanders (*Salamandra s. terrestris*) with a high proportion of yellow. | Miguel Vences

A tricolored fire salamander (Salamandra s. terrestris) from Solling | Benny Trapp — A tricolored fire salamander (*Salamandra s. terrestris*) from Solling | Benny Trapp

Even red Salamandra s. terrestris occasionally occur regionally clustered in the wild. | Benny Trapp — Even red *Salamandra s. terrestris* occasionally occur regionally clustered in the wild. | Benny Trapp

Color mutations like this leucistic fire salamander, S. s. terrestris, seem to occur regionally clustered, here from a population near Wuppertal. | Benny Trapp — Color mutations like this leucistic fire salamander, *S. s. terrestris*, seem to occur regionally clustered, here from a population near Wuppertal. | Benny Trapp

Salamandra salamandra salamandra from Slovenia | Miguel Vences — *Salamandra salamandra salamandra* from Slovenia | Miguel Vences

Salamandra salamandra salamandra near Vienna | Benny Trapp — *Salamandra salamandra salamandra* near Vienna | Benny Trapp

Unstoppable advance

According to previous knowledge, infected salamanders die unless they are treated. Unfortunately, the fungus can be transmitted not only from salamander to salamander, but also via soil, water, plants and other amphibians. After spreading from the Netherlands-Belgium-Germany border triangle through the Eifel region to the Ruhr area, it was also detected for the first time in Bavaria in 2020. There is great concern that the fungus is spreading nationwide. Even the extinction of the fire salamander in Germany and its neighboring countries is thus a realistic threat.

Unfortunately, the fungus can be transmitted not only from salamander to salamander, but also through soil, water, plants, and other amphibians.

Fire salamander died from bsal in Essen, Germany | Miguel Vences

Threatened salamander diversity

So far, nothing can be done against the fungus in nature – except to hope that it will not spread further or that the salamanders will eventually develop a natural resistance to it. By then, entire lineages of the fire salamander may have disappeared. Which would be a particularly severe loss, because not all fire salamanders are the same. In addition to individual differences, there are important regional differences. According to current knowledge, three major genetic lineages occur in Germany, distributed between the two subspecies Salamandra salamandra and S. s. terrestris. Within these “main lineages”, however, individual populations may develop their own peculiarities, be it in appearance or behavior.

Ark urgently needed!| Jak|Zdenek, Shutterstock

A refuge from the plague

In order to preserve as much as possible of the original diversity of Central European fire salamanders, Citizen Conservation wants to establish conservation breeds with animals from different locations and from all three major genetic lines, and manage their keeping. This is a considerable effort for which we depend on money, but also on the help of many salamander fans who lend a hand in keeping and breeding – be it private individuals, zoos or schools and other institutions.

Fire salamanders are maintained in very minimalistic husbandry or in terrariums furnished close to nature. For 2-3 animals, e.g. 100 x 50 cm floor space is recommended. The animals are kept dry (but with moist hiding place and water bowl) and cool (not above 20 °C in summer and below 10 °C in winter). They eat e.g. worms, crickets and house crickets. The larvae are reared in aquaria.

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