Classified as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM, the Sardinian or Gene’s Cave Salamander, Atylodes genei, is endemic to Europe, occurring only in southwest Sardinia, Italy. It has a relatively small range (less than 20,000 km2) and has been recorded in a relatively small number of locations. This species lives in moist rocky outcrops, caves, and forested areas near streams. The Sardinian Cave Salamander is amazing for being lungless and for laying eggs on land that hatch into fully formed salamanders instead of having a larval stage. Its closest relative is Hydromantes, salamanders in California, USA, which also live in rocky outcrops in rugged terrain.
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The populations of Sardinian Cave Salamanders face possible decline because of habitat loss due to deforestation, mineral extraction, and urbanisation.
The Sardinian Cave Salamander is listed on both the Bern Convention, Appendix II, and the EU Habitats Directive, Appendix IV. Its native range occurs within at least four protected areas, however due to its limited range there is a need for close monitoring of the populations.
Submit your observations of this species to iNaturalist and they will appear on this map. Learn more about this species on Amphibiaweb.
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Produced in partnership with:
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How to become an Amazing Amphibians partner:
Outlined below are the roles and responsibilities for the 4 different levels of involvement for potential partners. If your organization would like to be a part of the Amazing Amphibians program in either of these capacities please email amazing@amphibians.org.
Senior Partner – These partners will help with multiple aspects of the program, help facilitate the completion of several species profiles, publicize each Amazing Amphibian and will likely have a landing page for the program on their website. This level of partner will be leading in using their communication channels to gather additional information for the program such as images and data points for iNaturalist.
Strategic Partner – These partners will play an active role in creating species profiles, submitting at least three species profiles per year and actively use their social network to publicize each Amazing Amphibian. This level of partner will be active in using their communication channels to gather additional information for the program such as images and data points for iNaturalist.
Focal Partner – Partners tend to be active in a limited geographic area. This partner will submit at least one regional species profile per year and use their social network to publicize each Amazing Amphibian. This level of partner will be involved in using their communication channels to gather additional information at a regional level for the program such as images and data points for iNaturalist.
Affiliate – These partners are interested in promoting the program but might not be in a position to provide profiles. These partners will publicize each Amazing Amphibian through the social media outlets.
