Salamandra salamandra

Overview

Amphibian Species of the World places the species in Caudata, Salamandridae and Salamandrinae. It records the original name as Lacerta salamandra, from the 1758 tenth edition of Systema Naturae. The listed range spans much of western, central and southern Europe, including Greece.

Reproduction is not uniform across the species. Velo-Antón, Zamudio and Cordero-Rivera used eight microsatellite markers to compare fully live-bearing populations on the islands of Ons and San Martiño with coastal and inland Iberian populations that release larvae.

Island differentiation and little gene flow support separation by sea-level rise about 9,000 years ago. Selection, drift or both remain possible; the data do not resolve independent island evolution versus an earlier mainland origin of viviparity.

Origins & earliest records

Originally described as Lacerta salamandra by Linnaeus, 1758 (Systema Naturae, 10th edition, vol. 1, p. 204).

Evidence & interpretation

One museum taxonomic database account and one peer-reviewed population-genetics study.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Salamandra salamandra (Linnaeus, 1758)

   · n.d.

   Selected bibliography; Amphibian Species of the World nomenclature and distribution account.

2. 02

   Genetic drift and rapid evolution of viviparity in insular fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra)

   Velo-Antón, Zamudio and Cordero-Rivera · 2012

   Selected bibliography; Heredity 108:410–418, online 2011, DOI 10.1038/hdy.2011.91.

Family, evolution & connections

Taxonomic classification

A hierarchy of classified groups, not a chain of direct ancestors.

Source note: Placement follows Amphibian Species of the World as accessed 2026-10-06. Subspecies are not covered.

1. OrderCaudata
2. FamilySalamandridae
3. SubfamilySalamandrinae

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Museum taxonomic databaseSalamandra salamandra (Linnaeus, 1758)Research access: 2026-10-06
2. Peer-reviewed articleGenetic drift and rapid evolution of viviparity in insular fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra)Research access: 2026-10-06

Image credits

A black silhouette of a salamander seen from above, with four splayed legs and a tapering tail.

Attributed silhouette illustration labelled Salamandra salamandra by the source; it shows an outline, without colour or diagnostic detail.