Alpine Salamander

Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra) - Tyrolean Alps, Austria

 

Salamanders have been in the news a lot lately, and for good reason. A ban has been placed on the import and sale of many species of salamander and newt. This is due to the threat of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, or Bsal for short, it is an emergent disease that is being taken very seriously. Already this fungus has had disastrous effects on European salamanders and in some areas has led to a precipitous decline in populations. Bsal is in the same genus as the famous Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, the chytrid fungus which has been responsible for driving dozens of frog species to extinction, and there is currently no treatment for infected wild populations. The good news is that it has not yet reached the United States, the hotbed of diversity for salamanders. The ban on salamander import and sale is designed to protect the species here from the looming threat. While I have not explicitly checked the list, I am almost positive this species is listed as one of the species whose trade is prohibited as its closely related to Salamandra salamandra in which Bsal has been documented. While opinions are split as to the efficacy of a ban, any measures we can take to protect such incredible creatures have my support. We can't be too careful.

 

 

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