TITLE:
Identification of a New Stage in Salamandra infraimmaculata Metamorphosis
AUTHORS:
Gad Degani
KEYWORDS:
Salamandra infraimmaculata, Fire Salamander, Larval Development, Metamorphosis, Gill Retention, Habitat Variation, Seasonal Pond, Spring Stream, Water Hole, Amphibian Adaptation
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.15 No.3,
June
26,
2025
ABSTRACT: We examined various water bodies in which fire salamander (Salamandra infraimmaculata) larvae were growing and showed significant variation in growth rate and completion of metamorphosis depending on the habitat-seasonal pond, spring stream, or water hole. The phenomenon described herein involves larvae found in a water hole at a late stage of metamorphosis with highly developed gills, unable to leave the hole and complete metamorphosis. We hypothesize that the gills are an adaptation to the summer period, until the hole fills with water, allowing the larvae to complete metamorphosis and transition to terrestrial life.