Species account

Description
Medium-sized newt with well-defined paratoid glands. Snout rounded, upper jaw slightly extending over lower jaw. Tongue rather large and protractile. Labial folds and gular fold absent. Tail a little shorter than snout-vent length, compressed laterally and pointed. Body relatively flat. Dorsal skin smooth in aquatic phase and finely tubercular in terrestrial phase, ventral skin smooth in both aquatic and terrestrial phases. Fingers and toes short and depressed. Spurs on hind legs of males laterally flattened and not strongly protruding (Carranza & Amat, 2005).

Colour brown or olive above, sometimes with lighter yellowish, reddish or greenish markings that may form a thin vertebral line. Venter yellowish, grey or brown, speckled with whitish dots.

Male cloaca conical and projected backwards. Cloacal chamber contains a pseudopenis which may protrude from the cloaca during amplexus (Brizzi et al., 1995). Female cloaca hemispherical, with a vertical slit.

Total length usually 8-10 cm, max. 13 cm.

Diagnosis
Small-sized brownish newt, smooth-skinned in water, rough-skinned on land. Lungless. Male with broad head and spurs on hind legs. No dorsal crest in breeding season.

Eggs and larvae
Eggs are found between mid April and end September. Eggs are usually laid as a clutch, attached underneath stones, or to a rock only partly submerged, sprayed by water, but also incidentally among water plants. Several clutches may be found together under a stone. Per season a female lays a clutch of 20-35 eggs or more. One female was reported to lay 54 eggs within two weeks (Alcher, 1981), Miaud & Muratet (2004) report clutches of 10-120 eggs. Eggs measure 2.6 to 4.1 mm in diameter, not including the gelatinous capsule. At a water temperature of 15°C embryonic development takes about 40-50 days. Upon hatching larvae measure 13,3 mm on average (Alcher, 1988), or according to other reports 16 to 18 mm (Thiesmeier et al., 1996). Developing larvae are light brown and can be recognized by an elongated rectangular head (Bedriaga, 1897). They have a rounded tail tip and can be distinguished from the larva of the Fire Salamander (Salamandra corsa) by the absence of a bright spot at the base of the legs. Caudal fin extends only slightly onto the back (Miaud & Muratet, 2004). Larval development may take between 244 and 280 days, depending on water temperature. Higher temperatures result in much quicker development: 90-120 days at temperatures between 15 and 19°C (Thiesmeier et al., 1996). Larvae live hidden under stones, away from the current. At metamorphosis juveniles measure between 36 and 55.5 mm, with smaller sizes recorded in animals from lower altitudes and larger sizes in animals from higher altitudes. Larvae from higher altitudes may reach metamorphosis only after one or two winters. Larvae may be found all year round (Miaud & Muratet, 2004). Juvenile Euproctus montanus have a green to yellow pattern of spots on a dark brown underground and a thin orange, yellow or brownish vertebral stripe (Rimpp & Thiesmeier, 1999).

Distribution
Endemic to the Mediterranean island of Corsica, France, where it is widely distributed. From Cap Corse in the north to Montagne de Cagne in the south, from Golfe de Girolata in the west to where the lowlands start in the east. They occur from sea level up to 2,500 m altitude (Delaugerre & Cheylan, 1992; Rimpp & Thiesmeier, 1999).

Habitat
The species inhabits streams in forested or overgrown areas, where it prefers the more quiet, deeper parts after waterfalls, and where cover is present in the form of flat stones. It is also present in mountain lakes. On land this salamander uses spaces underground between roots of trees and shrubs, under logs and stones. They can be found especially between roots of sweet chestnut trees along the streams (Rimpp & Thiesmeier, 1999).

Behaviour
Animals become active at temperatures above 5°C. Adults eat invertebrates found on the bottom of the streams, such as stoneflies, ephemerids, caddisflies and to a lesser degree salamander larvae, eggs of its own species and young Discoglossus frogs (ACEMAV coll., 2003; Lanza et al., 2007).  Reproduction takes place in water when temperatures range between 10 and 15°C. Matings may also take place on land at the water’s edge. The breeding season is dependent on climate and altitude. At lower altitudes reproduction may take place in March-June as well as in September-October, at higher altitudes in July-August. In captive animals reproduction was observed between November and April. In summer, after reproduction, the animals go on land and lead a terrestrial life, hidden in the ground. After rainfall in September-October the animals enter water again (Rimpp & Thiesmeier, 1999).

In the breeding season, usually spring, the male actively searches for a female. He grasps the female by clasping her pelvic region with his tail; at the same time he grabs her tail with his mouth, pulling it straight. During this amplexus the male’s body is diametrically placed on that of the female. The male cloaca is pressed on that of the female. It is unclear if the hind leg spurs massage the male’s own cloaca or play a role in sperm transfer or stimulation of the female cloaca (Thiesmeier & Hornberg, 1990; Rimpp & Thiesmeier, 1999). Reduction in cloacal glands of the male probably relate to the direct transfer of sperm, for which no spermatophore structure is needed (Brizzi et al., 1995). Copulation may take up to four hours and a male may deposit two sperm packages. Of all salamandrids Euproctus montanus appears to have the most direct, intimate, contact between male and female cloacas.

The female lays her eggs usually as a clutch, attached to the underside of a flat stone in the stream. Captive observations have shown that the female stays with the eggs, guarding them until they hatch, a form of maternal care that is rare among salamandrids (Alcher, 1981, 1985; Thiesmeier et al., 1996; Rimpp & Thiesmeier, 1999).

Threats and conservation
Although not directly threatened in most of its range, in certain localities salamanders are threatened by habitat fragmentation, introduction of predatory fishes (trout), water pollution and over extraction of water for agriculture and tourism. The conservation status of this species is presently considered as of least concern (IUCN, 2011).

Observations in captivity
Euproctus montanus has been bred in captivity on several occasions. Reproductive behaviour and development of larvae and juveniles has been described from detailed observations on captive animals. In captivity this species requires water temperatures between 12 and 18°C and a rest period of several months with temperatures between 4 and 7° C (Alcher, 1980). Tanks should best have a water and a land part, although the animals can often be kept aquatic all year round. A water pump is useful to keep the water slowly moving. Captive animals should be given small insects and their larvae, worms are often refused. Euproctus montanus has lived in captivity for 5 to 7 years (Rimpp & Thiesmeier, 1999), but is more difficult to breed than Euproctus platycephalus. Details of captive maintenance of the two Euproctus species and Calotriton asper are discussed in Alcher (1980) and Thiesmeier & Hornberg (2002).

Comments
None.

Euproctus montanus male, Corsica
© Burkhard Thiesmeier

Euproctus montanus female, Corsica
© Burkhard Thiesmeier