My new fire salamanders (probably Salamandra salamandra salamandra)

[schmiggle]

I wasn't really sure where to post this, but I just received two beautiful juvenile salamanders from Thomas Wilder. They are apparently almost certainly S. s. salamandra; take a look at the following thread if you want more info: http://www.caudata.org/forum/f1173-...anders-salamandra/101176-breeding-ethics.html
I don't know what genders they are, I suppose I'll find out when they get older. They have already been happily eating, despite having shipped this morning.

Enjoy!

 

[MasSalvaje]

I wish you and them the very best! Observe them often, I am never let down by mine and they quite often surprise me with their antics. There are many users that know much more than I about salamandra on this site but feel free to contact me if ever you have questions.

-Thomas Wilder

 

[Blackbun]

Hello schmiggle how are your little ones doing? I've been thinking about salamandra subspecies identification quite a lot recently and I find it very perplexing. I have a line of fastuosa which look like true representatives of the subspecies. However, reading some of the specialist field guides eg 'The tailed amphibians of Europe' by Steward, I get an uneasy feeling as the description does not match reality.
Take a look at this
FR September-November 2007 France Switzerland Italy Spain Portugal
you will need to scroll down. There is massive variation within a subspecies which is more marked than variation even between different subspecies. Then, there's the issue of off-Spring resulting from parents of different subspecies.
I wonder if anyone has confidence in this.