S. salamandra in the U.S.

[Stan]

Hello,

Attached are a couple of photos of some S. salamandra that are currently being brought into the U.S. pet trade. Can someone please identify the subspecies?

Thank you,

Stan

 

[carpy]

hi stan.

i would say thats salamandra salamandra salamandra. if you are ever in doubt as to which subspecies it is, check out www.caudata.org/cc/articles/Salamandra_guide.shtml
that should always help out.

Alex

 

[John]

Most of the Salamandra in the US are Salamandra salamandra salamandra (as are the ones in your photos) because the only place where they are easily obtained and that seems to allow their collection is the Ukraine. That's the origin of all the S. s. salamandra you're going to see in the US. Other subspecies are probably captive bred and are usually very hard to come by and very expensive.

 

[Stan]

Thank you both for the inquiry as to subspecies and for all of the information.

 

[Jennewt]

Other subspecies are probably captive bred and are usually very hard to come by and very expensive.

I wish that were true, John. Sadly, there are still a lot of wild-caught Salamandra of various subspecies coming into the US. Many are derived from countries where collecting them is illegal, but they get here somehow.

I agree that the animals pictured above look like Salamandra salamandra salamandra. But without knowing the locality they came from, it's sometimes impossible to know the subspecies for sure.

 

[John]

I wish that were true, John. Sadly, there are still a lot of wild-caught Salamandra of various subspecies coming into the US. Many are derived from countries where collecting them is illegal, but they get here somehow.

Ah yes, I forget sometimes that I live in a dream world where people respect animals and the law.

I agree that the animals pictured above look like Salamandra salamandra salamandra. But without knowing the locality they came from, it's sometimes impossible to know the subspecies for sure.

Well I have seen Salamandra for sale locally here in the pet stores and they look like the ones I've seen previously (and known to be) from Ukraine (or routed through Ukraine for export).

 

[carpy]

yea, some of the similarities between subspecies is remarkable. however, i think it is a fair presumption that the above sals are s.s. salamandra.

nice ones as well though!

Alex