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North of the Wall: First record of Salamandra atra aurorae in the Sella Valley, South-eastern Alps.

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  • Luca Roner,
  • Emma Centomo,
  • Giulia Bombieri,
  • Andrea Costa,
  • Matilde Marconi,
  • Marco Salvatori,
  • Luigi Dallagiacoma,
  • Antonio Romano
Luca Roner
University of Oviedo, MUSE - Science Museum
Emma Centomo
MUSE - Science Museum
Giulia Bombieri
MUSE - Science Museum
Andrea Costa
University of Genova
Matilde Marconi
University of Florence
Marco Salvatori
University of Florence, MUSE - Science Museum
Luigi Dallagiacoma
Associazione Cacciatori Trentini (ACT)
Antonio Romano
National Research Council
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-19462

Published 2026-03-12

Keywords

  • Golden Alpine Salamander,
  • Endangered species,
  • Endemic taxon,
  • Distribution,
  • Climate niche,
  • Amphibian conservation
    • ...More
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How to Cite

Roner, L., Centomo, E., Bombieri, G., Costa, A., Marconi, M., Salvatori, M., Dallagiacoma, L., & Romano, A. (2026). North of the Wall: First record of Salamandra atra aurorae in the Sella Valley, South-eastern Alps . Acta Herpetologica. https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-19462

Copyright (c) 2026 Luca Roner, Emma Centomo, Giulia Bombieri, Andrea Costa, Matilde Marconi, Marco Salvatori, Luigi Dallagiacoma, Antonio Romano

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

Salamandra atra aurorae is a rare and elusive subspecies endemic to a small area of the southeastern Italian Prealps, typically inhabiting mature mixed forests between 1200 and 1800 m a.s.l. Its detection is challenging due to cryptic behavior and dependence on favorable weather. Since its first record in Trentino in 2008, no new localities had been reported. In summer 2025, following a citizen report, field surveys confirmed a new occurrence in the Sella Valley, extending the known range of S. a. aurorae in Trentino. Two individuals were found at 1825 m and 1395 m a.s.l.. The uppermost site, on a north-facing rocky scree, represents an atypical habitat, while the lowest site is a typical forest habitat. Climatic niche analysis showed that these sites lie at the edge of the previously known climatic range, suggesting broader ecological tolerance. The detection of a gravid female at the forest site indicates the presence of a reproductive population, excluding animals in simple dispersal. The substantial topographical barriers from known sites suggest possible long-term isolation or the existence of ecological corridors. This discovery has important conservation implications, as the detected individuals might be genetically distinct, warranting further genetic and phylogeographic studies. These findings highlight the need for targeted surveys and updated management strategies to protect this vulnerable taxon.

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