TRITURUS KARELINII (STRAUCH, 1870)
KARELIN TRITON

Order Caudate Amphibious Class - Caudata Scopoli, 1777 or Urodela Latreille, 1825

Family Salamandrids or True Salamanders - Salamandridae Goldfuss, 1820

Genus Newts - Triturus Rafinesque, 1815

It is believed that within its natural habitat the Karelin Triton, Triturus kareliniі (Strauch, 1870), is represented by two subspecies out of which on the territory of Ukraine animals of the nominative subspecies are prevalent - Triturus k. karelinіi (Strauch, 1870). Beyond Ukraine these tritons are characterized by a spacious natural habitat which runs from the eastern part of Balkan Peninsula through the south-western and northern part of Asia Minor, the mountains and forests of Crimea, a larger part of northern Caucasia till Dagestan and the northern (Caspian) part of Iran inclusive.

Tritons are average in size and the length of their body (including the tail) is approximately 130 mm. Palatine teeth grow in front of choanas, they are concave here and part in the back. The tail is flattened out on the sides. During the reproduction season, males develop a spinal crest. The skin is coarse-grained. Prevailing coloration is grey and brown of different tints with blurred black spots, approximately equal in size, to the eyes. The general background of the belly is orange with rather distinct black spots. The throat part is usually bright yellow (sometimes as dark as reddish). The number of body vertebrae is 12-14, usually 13.

Status. II Category of the Red Book of Ukraine - "endangered species"; the species is also listed in the Appendix II of the Bern Convention ("animal species under special protection").

Biotopes. In its range on the territory of Crimea, these tritons are found in the mountains and forests, while during the reproduction season, they are committed to slow or still water bodies. At the same time, they were also found in areas with xerophytic vegetation. There is data that approximately till August tritons live in water (remaining active during the daytime). Later, migrations of tritons were detected when they were found almost 2 km away from the nearest water bodies.

Number and Tendencies to Change. There is no exact data about long-term dynamics. In May, 1974 in the vicinity of Mountain Demerga approximately 10 tritons were noticed in a small 15-20 m diameter water body. According to the records, in spring 2003 in the western part of the Crimean Mountains (Balaklava rayon, the village of Ternovka, an artificial water body) the number of these amphibians on the coast line was approximately 40-50 tritons.

Biological Characteristics.Mating games in the spring are noted in premountainous rayons in March, and in April and May - in mountains. Males leave capsules with spermatozoa at the bottom of prominent objects and females pick them up with the edges of their cloaca. Normally, one female lays up to 190 spawn berries at the depth of 10-25 cm, which produce larvae in 10-13 days. There is data that larvae production is extended in time which is conditioned by the length of spawning. The metamorphosis takes place in August though there is proof that a part of animals does not complete their metamorphosis and start their winter hibernation in the form of larvae. While on land, tritons use shelters under the bark of trees, stumps, in holes in the soil and rodent holes. Upon the onset of winter hibernation they were most often found on land in similar shelters. They reach reproductive maturity at the age of 3 years old.