Hydromantes salamanders

Lunghi, Enrico, Ficetola, Gentile Francesco, Mulargia, Manuela, Cogoni, Roberto, Veith, Michael, Corti, Claudia & Manenti, Raoul, 2018, Batracobdella leeches, environmental features and Hydromantes salamanders, International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife 7 (1), pp. 48-53 : 49

2.2. The hosts: Sardinian Hydromantes salamanders

Sardinian Hydromantes ( H. flavus , H. supramontis , H. imperialis , H. sarrabusensis , H. genei ) are lungless salamanders endemic to Sardinia (Sillero et al., 2014), showing allopatric distributions ( Chiari et al., 2012). Salamanders of the genus Hydromantes are mostly epigean species which exploit a variety of different terrestrial habitats ( Lanza et al., 2006; Manenti, 2014; Costa et al., 2016). However, these salamanders have a narrow thermal niche and require high humidity (Spotila, 1972). They are strongly influenced by environmental conditions ( Lunghi et al., 2016a), and retreat underground when external conditions become too hot and dry ( Ficetola et al., 2012; Lunghi et al., 2014a, 2015a).

These salamanders have direct development and mostly reproduce in underground habitats ( Lanza et al., 2006; Lunghi et al., in press). Females lay about 6– 14 eggs in caves characterized by stable microclimate and low predation pressure ( Lunghi et al., 2014b, 2015b; Salvidio et al., 2017); the mother attends and protects eggs and hatchlings for more than nine months ( Oneto et al., 2010, 2014). The Italian IUCN Red List classifies the majority of the Sardinian Hydromantes (Speleomantes) species as vulnerable to extinction risks (Rondinini et al., 2013); all these species therefore deserve protection.