Colour polymorphism in Salamandra salamandra (Amphibia: Urodela), revealed by a lack of genetic and environmental differentiation between distinct phenotypes

Wouter Beukema, Alfredo G. Nicieza, André Lourenço and Guillermo Velo-Antón. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. Article first published online: 25 JAN 2016. Based on phenotypic data, mitochondrial DNA analyses and niche modelling, we show that the North Spanish S. s. bernardezi and S. s. alfredschmidti belong to a single taxon, which is characterized by colour polymorphism. Mitochondrial data revealed that individuals hitherto attributed to S. s. alfredschmidti are imbedded in several subclades of S. s. bernardezi, with which they consistently occur syntopically. We confirm the existence of colour polymorphism in the family Salamandridae, which provides exciting possibilities for future research. Leer más.