Added 16 August 2002. Last updated 25 March 2006: extensively updated the page to incorporate current classification.

Family Salamandridae

Genus Ichthyosaura: Alpine Newt

Introduction

For a long time Ichthyosaura was considered a Triturus species, but in 2004 was reassigned to its own genus on the basis of genetic evidence. There has been some discussion over whether the genus should now be called Ichthyosaura or Mesotriton: we have followed the argument for Ichthyosaura.

Triturus and relatives are characterised by their semiaquatic lifecycle, which for most species involves returning to the water after waking from hibernation in order to breed. This usually involves a certain amount of bodily change, mainly among the males who usually develop brighter colours and a crest on the tail and possibly on the back as well. In addition, fringes or webbing may appear on the hind toes, which may become extended instead. Both sexes may also develop a dorsolateral glandular swelling and their tails may become more "paddle-like" (Indiviglio) to assist in swimming. Courtship is fairly elaborate, and egg-laying may take some time. Later in the year most newts become terrestrial, losing their mating insignia in the process. However, some high-altitude or deep water populations may spend most or even all of the year in the water.

There have been deliberate releases of Alpine Newts in several locations, including some German cities, England and Scotland, Catalonia in Spain, and even the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand. These releases can be considered ill-judged, especially as the introduced Spanish population was discovered to be carrying ranavirus, which is infectious to both amphibians and reptiles. Even worse, the Coromandel population was linked to the spread of the amphibian chytrid fungus, which has become an enormous problem worldwide for amphibians, with a population of endangered Archey’s Frogs (Leiopelma archeyi) nearby.

All of these species are protected to a lesser or greater degree by law, but it is possible to legally purchase individuals from European breeders (check your national law first, however). Triturus and related newts have been kept and bred successfully in captivity, but Indiviglio notes that they are very sensitive to water quality, so optimum care is very important.

	QUICK INDEX
Ichthyosaura alpestris, Alpine Newt

Scientific Name	Common Name	Distribution	Size	Notes
Ichthyosaura
I. alpestris	Alpine Newt [Fr Triton alpestre: D Bergmolch]	Central Europe into France, NW Spain, N Italy, Balkans: introduced into UK and New Zealand (the latter population apparently now removed)	4-4½"	Fairly widespread species, found equally in flooded stone quarries, lowland meadow ponds and mountain forest pools. However it is predominantly montane, being largely absent from the lowland areas in Europe. Some individuals may be found at up to 9,000 ft. Colouring is ventrally orange and dorsally grey marbling, and in addition males have blue sides and a low crest. Once they leave the water in summer, males lose the crest and the skin of both sexes takes on a warty appearance. Thereafter the Alpine Newt lives on dry land until autumn, when it hibernates for the winter. Females are normally larger than males. If picked up, these newts can make a whistling sound by inflating themselves and releasing the air. This species is also capable of regeneration of limbs. Occasionally larvae do not complete their metamorphosis by autumn, in which case they hibernate and metamorphose the following year. Neoteny has also been occasionally recorded, being found in two subspecies and partly in a third. There were originally 10 or so subspecies, but the four below are now those currently recognised. Eastern populations were assigned in 2018 to I. reiseri with its 3 subspecies (reiseri, carpathica and montenegrina) but this classification is currently unresolved. Description: fronto-squamosal arch ligamentous; frontals with distinct orbital processes. Palatine teeth in two series convergent towards front, forming a ^, commencing on a line with the choanae. Tongue small, subcircular, the sides free. Head a little longer than broad; its length contained about thrice in the male, about thrice and a half in the female, in the length of the body; the greatest width of head at eyes; snout broad, rounded; breeding male with a low straight-edged dorsal crest, which is not interrupted on the pelvic region. Limbs moderate; fingers and toes free, depressed, short, scarcely longer in the male than in the female; two small carpal and tarsal tubercles. Tail as long as, or a little shorter than, head and body, ending in a point, strongly compressed during the breeding-season, and with an upper and lower crest. Skin more or less distinctly tuberculate on upper surfaces, smooth beneath; head and parotoid region with distinct pores; a distinct gular fold. Coloration: upper parts brown, blackish, greyish, or purplish, uniform or marbled with darker; a lateral series of small black spots on whitish ground, this being bordered inferiorly in the breeding male by a sky-blue band; dorsal and caudal crests white, with round black spots; fingers and toes with black annuli; belly orange or red, immaculate; throat frequently black-dotted; the lower edge of the female's tail orange, with round black spots. [SOURCE: Boulenger]
I. a. alpestris	Alpine Newt [Fr Triton alpestre: D Bergmolch]	C, W and E Europe, parts of the Balkan peninsula and N Italy (Julian and Lepontine Alps)
I. a. apuana	Apennine Alpine Newt	France (Lower Alps), Maritime Alps, Italy (inc. Maritime Alps, western Apennines, Tuscany southwards to Arezzo province)
I. a. cyreni	Cantabrian Alpine Newt	NW Spain (SW Pyrenees, Cordillera Cantabrica) and C Spain (Sierra de Guaddarama in Segovia province)
I. a. veluchiensis	Greek Alpine Newt	C Greece (Veluchi mountains, Parnass as far as NE Peloponnese)

Bibliography