The Alpine Salamander (Salamandra atra) is a shiny black salamander. It is found in the Central, Eastern and Dinaric Alps, at altitudes above 700 meters. The Western Alps are inhabited by a similar species Salamandra lanzai in only one small area.
There are no differences in length between sexes (9 to 14 cm) and sex ratio is 1:1. Their life expectancy is at least ten years. Unlike other salamanders whose larvae are developed in water, the Alpine salamander is a fully terrestrial species. Capture-recapture methods suggest that species is very stationary, a 12 meters was the maximal observed distance travelled by one individual during the summer season. 120 individuals per hectare were counted in most suitable areas with >2000 individuals/ha also observed. This suggests that this rather cryptic species is quite abundant.
In the UK[]
They are vary popular pets and some have some have escaped in the UK. There are estimated to be around 10 breeding populations.