Gold-striped salamander

The gold-striped salamander or golden-striped salamander[3] (Chioglossa lusitanica) is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is the only species of the genus Chioglossa. It is found in the north-west of Iberia (in Portugal and Spain) at an altitude of up to 1,300 m. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Gold-striped salamander
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Salamandridae
Subfamily: Salamandrinae
Genus: Chioglossa
Bocage, 1864
Species:
C. lusitanica
Binomial name
Chioglossa lusitanica
Bocage, 1864
Range map[2]

Description
Original watercolour included in the first scientific description of the species by naturalist José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage in 1864

The gold-striped salamander is a short-legged salamander with protruding eyes and a tail that makes up 2/3 of its total length. It has a smooth upper side with 10-11 coastal grooves which are dark brown to blackish and usually two parallel golden stripes on the back which can sometimes be broken. It is an agile terrestrial amphibian, and is nocturnal. It may shed its tail like a lizard if it feels threatened, and lives for about eight to 10 years. It feeds primarily on invertebrates, using its sticky tongue to catch them. They mate on land with clutches of 12-20 eggs laid between stones in running water[1] or on the walls of caves. The larvae develop in water.

The species has two described subspecies, C. l. lusitanica and C. l. longipes.[4][1]

Distribution and habitat
Gold-striped salamander in Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal

Its natural habitat are moist deciduous forests near streams in mountainous areas of northwest Spain and north and central Portugal and has been introduced in the Sintra Mountains, but is also found in eucalypt plantations, pine forests and even shrubland. The species has also been recorded from caves and abandoned flooded mines.[1]

It occurs in several protected areas including the Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal and the Picos de Europa National Park, Spain.[1]

Threats

The species is threatened by replacement of its habitat (especially in Spain) and fires (especially in Portugal).[1]

Notes and references
  1. Arntzen, J., Bosch, J., Denoel, M., Tejedo, M., Edgar, P., Lizana, M., Martinez Solano, I., Salvador, A., García París, M., Recuero Gil, E., Sá-Sousa, P. & Márquez, R. (2009). "Chioglossa lusitanica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T4657A86596175. Retrieved 17 January 2021.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Jan Willem Arntzen, Jaime Bosch, Mathieu Denoël, Miguel Tejedo, Paul Edgar, Miguel Lizana, Iñigo Martínez-Solano, Alfredo Salvador, Mario García-París, Ernesto Recuero Gil, Paulo Sá-Sousa, Rafael Marquez 2008. Chioglossa lusitanica. 2010.1 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Archived June 27, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Downloaded on 16 May 2010.
  3. "Gold-striped salamander - Chioglossa lusitanica Bocage, 1864". European Environment Agency. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  4. JAN W. ARNTZEN, DICK S. J. GROENENBERG, JOÃO ALEXANDRINO, NUNO FERRAND & FERNANDO SEQUEIRA (2007) Geographical variation in the golden-striped salamander, Chioglossa lusitanica Bocage, 1864 and the description of a newly recognized subspecies. Journal of Natural History, 41(13–16): 925–936.

References
  • Jan Willem Arntzen, Jaime Bosch, Mathieu Denoël, Miguel Tejedo, Paul Edgar, Miguel Lizana, Iñigo Martínez-Solano, Alfredo Salvador, Mario García-París, Ernesto Recuero Gil, Paulo Sá-Sousa, Rafael Marquez 2008. Chioglossa lusitanica. 2010.1 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 16 May 2010.
  • New Holland European Reptile and Amphibian Guide.
  • There is a ship in halo 3 ODST called the "Chioglossa" that is visible for a brief moment during the opening of the game

Media related to Chioglossa lusitanica at Wikimedia Commons

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