A progressive extirpation: an overview of the fossil record of Salamandrina (Salamandridae, Urodela)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Salamandrina is the only extant representative of the Salamandrininae, characterised by a unique suite of morphological, ecological, and ethological features. The Salamandrina species are endemic of Italy, although their past distribution included different areas of Europe. Fossil remains belonging to this genus were previously described from the Miocene of Hungary, Mio-Pliocene transition of Greece, and Pliocene of Sardinia. The fossil record of this genus is herein expanded, with detailed descriptions of pre-caudal and caudal vertebrae from the Miocene of Germany (Petersbuch), Greece (Ano Metochi), Sardinia (Oschiri), and Spain (La Gloria, La Roma, Masada Ruea, Puente Minero), and the Pleistocene of Italy (Montagnola Senese). Otic-occipitum complexes and limb elements referred to Salamandrina are also described from the Miocene of La Roma (Spain). All these remains are referred to Salamandrina sp., given that identification at the species level of the retrieved skeletal elements is not possible. Nevertheless, the fossil record clearly indicates that the current range of this genus is the result of a prolonged extirpation process that ultimately led to the significant shrinkage of the original range or, at least apparently, to a late dispersal into the Italian Peninsula.