Salamandra atra
Silhouette: Mattia Menchetti / Yan Wong · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%
The alpine salamander (Salamandra atra) is a black salamander that can be found in the Alps, and through the mountainous range in Europe. It is a member of the genus Salamandra. The species name, atra, is derived from the Latin ater, meaning dull black. The colour of salamanders has evolved over time, as some species are completely monochrome black, and others have yellow spotting and marks. Their life expectancy is at least 10 years. There are four subspecies of the alpine salamander, with varied distribution and physical colour. Unlike other salamanders, whose larvae develop in water, the alpine salamander and its subspecies are fully terrestrial species in life and gestation. They give birth to live young.
Alpine salamanders produce toxic compounds from their skin. These compounds may protect them from both predator and microbial threats. Alpine salamanders are often small in size, and dark brown or black. Members of the subspecies are not wholly black or brown monochrome, but rather have mosaic or spotted patterns. Members of the subspecies Salamandra atra aurorae have bright splotches on its dorsal side and head. The colour is often bright yellow, but can range... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hohe Tauern National Park | 🇦🇹 Austria | |
| 2 | Triglav National Park | 🇸🇮 Slovenia |
Likely
About 50% of wildlife watchers report an Alpine Salamander sighting in Triglav National Park on a given day, based on 65 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 3rd most-seen of the 6 amphibians we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
July to September
In those months about 60% of wildlife watchers report an Alpine Salamander in Triglav National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March and April, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Alpine Salamander sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Alpine Salamander sightings, Triglav National Park ranks 2nd at about 50%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Hohe Tauern National Park (Austria, about 50%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Alpine Salamander is recorded against all the amphibians logged in Triglav National Park (65 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
