Habitat and Climate Constraints on the Southern Distribution of Salamandra infraimmaculata

The fire salamander (Salamandra infraimmaculata) is a prominent urodele amphibian inhabiting the Mediterranean region of northern Israel. Like other salamandrids, this species requires two distinct habitat types to complete its life cycle: aquatic habitats for larval development and terrestrial habitats for juvenile and adult stages. While the availability of aquatic breeding sites has traditionally been considered a major factor influencing salamander distribution, the northern Israeli landscape presents a unique opportunity to test this assumption. Across northern Israel—from Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights through Upper and Central Galilee to the Carmel range—S. infraimmaculata occupies a wide array of aquatic breeding habitats, including perennial streams, seasonal winter ponds, and artificial stone-lined water pits. However, the species’ distribution terminates sharply south of the Carmel region, despite the continued presence of similar aquatic habitats further south. This review synthesizes published ecological, climatic, and biogeographical studies to evaluate the factors limiting the southern distribution of S. infraimmaculata. We conclude that terrestrial climatic conditions—particularly reduced precipitation, increased aridity, and prolonged dry seasons—constitute the primary limiting factor, rather than the availability or type of aquatic breeding sites.