CR

Sette Fratelli Cave Salamander

Speleomantes sarrabusensis

DecliningVUEU

Overview

The Sarrabus' cave salamander or Sette Fratelli cave salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is found in southeastern Sardinia, east of Cagliari, in the Sarrabus region. The species was thought to have been a part of Speleomantes imperialis but was found to be a separate species.

Speleomantes sarrabusensis faces severe threats from habitat degradation and human disturbance within its extremely restricted range in southeastern Sardinia. Mining activities, quarrying, and cave tourism pose direct risks to the fragile limestone cave systems this species depends upon. Climate change threatens to alter the delicate moisture and temperature conditions essential for this cave-dwelling salamander's survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic salamander inhabits limestone caves and underground fissures in the Sarrabus region of southeastern Sardinia. It requires stable, humid cave environments with specific temperature and moisture conditions typical of Mediterranean karst systems.

Rocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area managementSpecies managementSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in PLETHODONTIDAE

Honduran Lowland Worm SalamanderVU

Honduran Lowland Worm Salamander

Oedipina quadra

Declining
Kings River Slender SalamanderEN

Kings River Slender Salamander

Batrachoseps regius

Unknown
Conant's Mushroomtongue SalamanderVU

Conant's Mushroomtongue Salamander

Bolitoglossa conanti

Declining
VU

Pygmy Web-footed Salamander

Bolitoglossa pygmaea

Stable

Threatened in Italy

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
EN

Lyophyllum deliberatum

Unknown
VU

Arum apulum

Declining
EN

Pipizella nigriana

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Sette Fratelli Cave Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
Sette Fratelli Cave Salamander 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. Speleomantes sarrabusensis faces severe threats from habitat degradation and human disturbance within its extremely restricted range in southeastern Sardinia. Mining activities, quarrying, and cave tourism pose direct risks to the fragile limestone cave systems this species depends upon. Climate change threatens to alter the delicate moisture and temperature conditions essential for this cave-dwelling salamander's survival.
Where does Sette Fratelli Cave Salamander live?
Sette Fratelli Cave Salamander occurs in Italy. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Sette Fratelli Cave Salamander?
The main threats to Sette Fratelli Cave Salamander are 11.1, 5.1, 5.1.1, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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