Plasma proteins and morphology of Salamandra salamandra in Israel

Abstract

AbstractDifferences between three isolated populations of Salamandra salamandra were examined in this study. It is based on 369 adult specimens which were measured for length and weight. The yellow markings and the quantitative relationship between the black and the yellow areas were compared. Plasma proteins were determined by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel. Salamanders from a moist habitat (Tel Dan) are much smaller than salamanders from semi-arid habitats (Mt. Meron and Mt. Carmel). The colour pattern typical of the Lebanese S. s. infraimmaculata was found in all the Israeli populations, whereas colour patterns typical of the European S. s. salamandra were not found in them. The plasma proteins of the Israeli salamanders are very similar to those of the Lebanon (Gasser, 1975) and differ greatly from those of the European S. s. salamandra. These results indicate that the Israeli salamander populations should be arranged taxonomically with S. s. infraimmaculata.