The Yellow Spot Pattern of Salamander (<i>Salamandra infraimmaculata</i>) in Various Habitats at the Southern Border of Its Distribution in Israel

Abstract

The present study describes the different color-pattern phenotypes of yellow spots on the black back of Salamandra infraimmaculata in various habitats at the southern border of its distribution in Israel. At Tel Dan, we photographed 454 salamanders in moist habitats where water flows year round; 100 of these were sampled to measure the percentage of yellow and black color on the back, and the number of spots on the head. At Kibbutz Sasa, 201 salamanders were photographed, of which 62 were sampled for the measurements. In Kibbutz Yehiam, 200 salamanders were photographed, and 60 were sampled for the measurements. At all sites, about a third of the salamanders were photographed more than once. For all three populations, yellow spots on the salamander back were found in one row, two rows or scattered. For two indices (proportion of yellow/black and number of spots on the head), the Dan population (under wet, running water all year round conditions) differed from the two other populations of salamanders (under semi-arid mountain conditions). The number of yellow spots on the head of the salamanders in the three populations varied from 1 to 7. In all populations, 4 spots pattern was the most common. In the Dan population, there were significantly more salamanders with 1 to 3 spots on their head than in the Sasa or Yehiam populations. No difference was found in the number of head spots for Sasa vs. Yehiam salamanders. The percentage of yellow on the black back was significantly larger for the Dan salamanders vs. the two other populations.

"Eastern Fire Salamander (Salamandra infraimmaculata) Skin Mucus Metabolites – LC-MS/MS Analysis"

“…We present here a first study to examines substances secreted from the skin of this species of salamander, and also to compares them between geographically isolated populations. The differences found in the mucus secretions of S. infraimmaculata from the various habitats paralleled differences in many biological parameters, such as: morphological [14][15][16], physiological [14,15], genetic [6,17,15] and behavioral [11,12]. Most of the metabolites found here in the S. infraimmaculata mucus have also been found in S. salamandra [3][4][5].…”

“…The black-yellow coloration of S. infraimmaculata probably serves to deter predators [1], as described in other species of Salamandra, but solid evidence for aposematism in Salamandra is still lacking. Different color-pattern phenotypes for the yellow spots on the black back of the S. infraimmaculata populations studied here have been found [16]. The differences between the color patterns for the salamander populations in Dan and Sasa, and the concomitant variation found here in SSP composition may indicate a connection between these two variables.…”

“…The genetic structure of the salamander population at the southern limit of its distribution in Israel, belonging to the species S. infraimmaculata, differs from that of the salamanders in Europe (S. salamandra) [6][7][8][9][10]. In Israel, the salamanders are found in isolated populations, and various differences have been found among those populations, including ecological [11][12][13][14], morphological [15,16], physiological [17,18], behavioral [12] and genetic [19][20][21] differences. The purpose of this study was to examine the metabolites in the mucus secreted by S. infraimmaculata from different habitats at the southern limit of its distribution.…”

Skin Mucus Metabolites in Salamandra Infraimmaculata from Various Habitats

“…It also reaches into the Middle East, where the species S. infraimmaculata has been identified [1]. The distinct salamander species in this genus, characterized by their black and yellow coloration patterns, have been thoroughly examined in numerous studies [1][2][3][4] describing the various color-pattern phenotypes of the yellow markings on the black dorsal surface of S. infraimmaculata in different habitats located at the southern extremity of its distribution within Israel.…”

“…All Salamandra species secrete a toxic substance known as Salamandra skin poison (SSP), which functions as a defense mechanism alongside the salamander's distinctive cautionary hues [1]. Most of the research on the mucus secretions on salamander skin has centered on S. salamandra from Europe [5]. SSP has been identified as consisting of steroidal alkaloids, mainly samandarine, a saturated secondary amine, C 19 H 31 NO 2 , with a secondary hydroxy group.…”