Luschan's salamander


Luschan's salamander or Lycian salamander is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is found in the southwestern Anatolia in Turkey and in adjacent Greece.

Description

Luschan's salamander is brown with small yellow dots dorsally, yellow or whitish laterally, and flesh-colored ventrally. The eyes are prominent, as are the narrow paratoid glands. The tail is thin. Males have a protruding "spike" at the base of their tails on the dorsal surface. Adults may grow to in total length.

Reproduction

Luschan's salamanders are viviparous. Females give birth to two offspring that are produced from each of the female's two oviducts. Gestation time ranges from 5-8 months.

Habitat and status

Its natural habitats are temperate forests and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Subspecies

The three subspecies are: