Salamandrina

Salamandrina Temporal range:
Salamandrina terdigitata
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Urodela
Family:	Salamandridae
Subfamily:	Salamandrininae
Genus:	Salamandrina Fitzinger,1826
Distribution in Italy: red -S. perspicillata green -S. terdigitata

Salamandrina,thespectacled salamanders,is a genus ofsalamander,the only of subfamilySalamandrininaein the familySalamandridaewhich is still alive, as one of its own relatives is extinct. The IUCN Red List follows Mattoccia et al. (2005) and Canestrelli et al. (2006) in accepting two species, both only found inItaly:

• Southern spectacled salamander (Salamandrina terdigitata)
• Northern spectacled salamander (Salamandrina perspicillata)

DNA testing is the most effective way to distinguish between S.terdigitataand S.perspicillata,however there is a some slight morphological differences between the two species. S.terdigitatais on average 1 cm shorter than S.perspicillataas well as having more extensive red coloration on its Vental side.

Fossils show that the genus formerly had a wider distribution during theMioceneandPlioceneincluding Spain, Germany, Hungary and Greece.