# Alpine salamander (*Salamandra atra*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/alpine-salamander  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The alpine salamander (Salamandra atra) is an amphibian in the salamanders and newts group, belonging to the family Salamandridae in the order Caudata. It is a tiny, nocturnal species with an adult body mass of 8.2 g and a body length of up to 15 cm, and its microhabitats are aquatic and terrestrial. It reproduces by live birth, with litters from 11 to 50 young, and has a lifespan of up to 17 years. The IUCN Red List assesses it globally as Least Concern, which is not a threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 8.2 g |
| Length | up to 15 cm |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Longest recorded lifespan | 17 years |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | mountain |
| Young per litter or clutch | 11 – 50 |
| Reproduction | Live birth |
| Active | At night (nocturnal) |
| Lifestyle | Terrestrial |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Amphibia
- order: Caudata
- family: Salamandridae
- genus: Salamandra
- species: *Salamandra atra* Laurenti, 1768

Synonyms: *Geotriton fuscus*, *Geotriton fuscus*, *Lacerta atra*, *Salamandra atra atra*, *Salamandra atra aurorae*, *Salamandra atra pasubiensis*, *Salamandra atra prenjensis*, *Salamandra aurorae*, *Salamandra fusca*, *Salamandra maculosa atra*, *Salamandra nera*, *Salamandra nigra*, *Spelerpes fuscus*, *Triton fuscus*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the alpine salamander?

The alpine salamander is an amphibian in the salamanders and newts group, classified in the family Salamandridae and the order Caudata.

### How big is the alpine salamander?

The alpine salamander has a body length of up to 15 cm and an adult body mass of 8.2 g, placing it in the tiny size class.

### Is the alpine salamander endangered?

No. The IUCN Red List assesses the alpine salamander globally as Least Concern, which is not a threatened category.

### How long does the alpine salamander live?

The alpine salamander has a lifespan of up to 17 years.

### How many young does the alpine salamander have?

The alpine salamander gives live birth, with litters from 11 to 50 young.

### Is the alpine salamander nocturnal?

Yes, the alpine salamander is nocturnal.

### Who named the alpine salamander?

The alpine salamander, Salamandra atra, was named by Laurenti in 1768.

### What are other names for the alpine salamander?

The alpine salamander is also called the Black salamander, Golden salamander and Black alpine salamander.

## Sources

- [AmphiBIO, a global database for amphibian ecological traits](https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.4644424.v5), CC BY 4.0, v1. Oliveira, B.F., São-Pedro, V.A., Santos-Barrera, G., Penone, C. & Costa, G.C. (2017) AmphiBIO, a global database for amphibian ecological traits. Scientific Data 4: 170123. https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2017.123. Data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.4644424.v5
- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/alpine-salamander