Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Lanza's alpine salamander (Salamandra lanzai), recorded as Critically Endangered
Lanza's alpine salamander (Salamandra lanzai). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Critically Endangered

Lanza's alpine salamander

Salamandra lanzai

Lanza's alpine salamander is a salamander in the family Salamandridae (order Caudata) — Salamandra lanzai, recorded as Critically Endangered.

Status
Critically Endangered
Scientific name
Salamandra lanzai
Taxonomy
Amphibia · Caudata · Salamandridae · Salamandra

Appearance

Due to its black colour, it is similar to the other alpine salamander (Salamandra atra).

The species has a flat head and measures between 115 and 160 millimetres (4.5 and 6.3 in) in length.

Range and habitat

The species can be found in the Cottian Alps near Monviso, and in Guil Valley of southeastern France. It can also be found in northwestern Italy, the Germanasca, Pellice Valleys, and the Po River. An old sample of the species in Museo La Specola in Florence suggests it is also found in the Maritime Alps.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

Habits

During that time, they become nocturnal, but during heavy rains, they may become diurnal.

In crisis

It is threatened by habitat loss and potentially in the future by the fungal disease Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans. Even so, in 2022 it was precautionarily listed as critically endangered by the IUCN due to potential threats from the fungal disease Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, that has been recorded in nearby regions of Germany. If the fungus is allowed to spread naturally, it may be at risk of extinction within the next 40 years, and possibly sooner if humans introduce the disease nearby.

Salamanders disappear when seeps are capped, caves are disturbed, or a pathogen moves through a mountain range.

Lanza's alpine salamander is Critically Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Lanza's alpine salamander, Wikidata item Q1452325. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Also in this catalog

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Axolotl

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Quick answers

What is Lanza's alpine salamander?
Lanza's alpine salamander is a salamander in the family Salamandridae (order Caudata) — Salamandra lanzai.
What is the conservation status of Lanza's alpine salamander?
Critically Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Salamandra lanzai. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Lanza's alpine salamander live?
It can also be found in northwestern Italy, the Germanasca, Pellice Valleys, and the Po River.
Why is Lanza's alpine salamander in crisis?
Even so, in 2022 it was precautionarily listed as critically endangered by the IUCN due to potential threats from the fungal disease Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, that has been recorded in nearby regions of Germany.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Salamandra lanzai?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Lanza's alpine salamander a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.