TRITURUS MONTANDONI (BOULENGER, 1880)
CARPATHIAN 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

Carpathian Triton, Triturus montandoni (Boulenger, 1880) is one of the 14 European and western Asian species. An endemic of the Carpathians and the Tatra Mountains. A monotypic species.

The animal is small, the male body is approximately 75 mm and the female - 80 mm long, including the tail. Palatine teeth look like two lines, parallel in the front and parting in the back. Unlike many other triton species, males do not develop a spinal crest though they have a rather noticeable (up to 5-8 mm) dark threadlike outgrowth which considerably shrinks (to 1mm) when the triton returns to land after the reproduction season. The body in the cross-section is square yet rounded, the skin is smooth while in water during the reproduction season; after the season is over it is fine-grained. The coloration is rather changeable yet most often it’s yellow, brown and olive (females are somewhat lighter). A light line runs in the middle of the spinal part, the sides are covered with dark spots and dots; the belly is orange to red, no spots. During the mating period, males have a darker top of the tail while at the bottom their tail has a light blue line, the hind legs and cloacal lips are almost black (those of females are yellow). Repeated cases of hybridization of the Carpathian Triton with the Common Triton (Triturus vulgaris) are known. Such hybrids unite external morphological characteristics of both species and it is characteristic of them to develop a small spinal crest, to have a long tail line and a spotted belly.

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

Biotopes. Most often they are found in mountains and forests although can often live in the sub alpine belt (poloninas) as well. The vertical expansion of tritons happens usually at the height of 400-500 m, up to 900 m, above sea level though they can be found even higher or lower than this level.

Number and Tendencies to Change. According to the records in Transcarpathia, the number of tritons during the reproduction season in their typical habitat ranges from 20 to 80 ones per 100 m of the coast line. Studies of the species in Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv oblasts show that the number of Carpathian Tritons in their spawning areas reaches 18-20 tritons/m², according to other data - 15-25 tritons/m². After the reproduction season and transfer to land, tritons disperse and their population on the routes decreases. Special research conducted in late June 2004 in the Carpathians on the Uzhok pass (on the border of Lviv and Transcarpathia oblasts, N 49° 00.051, EO 22°53.768) shows these amphibians’ number of approximately 120 tritons per 100 m of the route.

Biological Characteristics. The beginning of their spring activity is determined by the height of the place above sea level and weather conditions and most often falls on April and May while higher in the mountains - on early June. It is believed that tritons of this species are rather resistant to low temperatures. They were found in spawning water bodies with a water temperature close to 0°-4°С. During the reproduction season, Carpathian Tritons inhabit various types of water bodies with still and semi flowing water (large and constant, small and temporary). Repeatedly it was noticed how tritons used for spawning road puddles made by motor transport on country roads. Mating games precede spawning. The female places berries (a total of approximately 30-80, maximum up to 250 berries) on the leaves of aquatic plants, several berries on a leaf. The length of embryo development is related to the water temperature and, usually, this period lasts two weeks though in cold seasons it can last longer. The larva stage lasts up to 3 months yet in some cases larvae fail to complete their metamorphosis during one warm season. While in water tritons are active during the daytime and at dusk and night. They leave water bodies in July - end of August. On land these animals usually keep close to damp habitats (the coasts of lakes, ditches, streams). They stay active approximately till late October and then begin their winter hibernation. They use animal holes, depressions under stones, hollow tree stumps. There is data proving that some tritons can hibernate in water. Most likely, they become reproductively mature at three years old.