CR

Montseny Brook Newt

Calotriton arnoldi

DecliningCREU

Overview

The Montseny brook newt is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is endemic to the Montseny Massif in northeast Spain. Before it was formally described in 2005, it was mixed with the larger and more widely distributed Pyrenean brook salamander.

Calotriton arnoldi faces severe threats from habitat degradation in its extremely limited range within the Montseny Massif. Climate change poses a critical risk by altering the cool, humid microclimate conditions essential for this species' survival, potentially forcing populations to higher elevations with limited suitable habitat. Human activities including tourism, infrastructure development, and water extraction further fragment and degrade the pristine stream environments this newt requires for breeding and survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic newt inhabits cool, clear mountain streams and springs in beech and oak forests of the Montseny Massif in Catalonia, Spain. It requires pristine aquatic environments with stable water temperatures, high oxygen levels, and minimal human disturbance, typically found at elevations between 600-1,200 meters.

Forest· majorForest - Temperate· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies managementSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in SALAMANDRIDAE

Luschan's SalamanderEN

Luschan's Salamander

Lyciasalamandra luschani

Declining
Common Fire SalamanderVU

Common Fire Salamander

Salamandra salamandra

Declining
VU

Kosswig's Smooth Newt

Lissotriton kosswigi

Declining
VU

Black-spotted Newt

Notophthalmus meridionalis

Declining

Threatened in Spain

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
VU

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Declining
EN

Lyophyllum deliberatum

Unknown
VU

Hemicycla invernicata

Stable

Frequently asked questions

Why is Montseny Brook Newt classified as Critically Endangered?
Montseny Brook Newt is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Calotriton arnoldi faces severe threats from habitat degradation in its extremely limited range within the Montseny Massif. Climate change poses a critical risk by altering the cool, humid microclimate conditions essential for this species' survival, potentially forcing populations to higher elevations with limited suitable habitat. Human activities including tourism, infrastructure development, and water extraction further fragment and degrade the pristine stream environments this newt requires for breeding and survival.
Where does Montseny Brook Newt live?
Montseny Brook Newt occurs in Spain. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Montseny Brook Newt?
The main threats to Montseny Brook Newt are 11.1, 5.1, 5.1.1, and 8.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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