Ommatotriton vittatus (Gray, 1835)

Scientific Classification

The southern banded newt, scientifically named Ommatotriton vittatus (Gray, 1835), is a species of salamander belonging to the family Salamandridae.

Overall Distribution

It is found in Lori Province (northern Armenia), Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey.

Subspecies

This species has two recognized subspecies: O. v. vittatus, which occurs in Turkey, Syria, and Israel, and O. v. ciliensis, which is found only in Turkey.

Size

It is a medium-sized newt, with a total body length of 90–110 mm.

Sexual Size And Weight Differences

Females are often slightly smaller than males and weigh approximately half as much as males, but both sexes have a similar mean body condition index.

General Habitat

The natural habitat of the southern banded newt includes various types of water bodies in temperate forests and grasslands, such as rivers, ponds, and canals.

Extended Habitat Range

Its range also extends to water in caves, arable land, and rural gardens.

Water Physicochemical Parameters

It has been recorded in water with temperatures ranging from 8.7 to 14.6 °C (average 11.4 °C), pH between 7.5 and 8, general hardness (GH) between 3 and 18 (average 11.4), and carbonate hardness (KH) between 3 and 18 (average 10.4).

Altitude Preference

Generally, the species prefers higher altitudes above 1500 m, which have lower temperatures.

Hibernation And Aestivation

When temperatures drop below 3.9 °C, southern banded newts enter hibernation, and they aestivate during dry, hot weather.

Breeding Season Timing

The breeding season of this species runs from early spring to early summer, which is February to June in its native range.

Seasonal Habitat Shifts

During the breeding season, individuals live in shallow, slow-flowing water with vegetation; outside of breeding season, they occupy wooded areas or areas with loose stones located close to water.

Male Breeding Traits And Courtship

During breeding season, male O. vittatus develop large crests on their backs and more vivid coloration to attract females, and they also perform visual displays and movements with their tails and crests.

Male Territorial Behavior

Males are aggressive and territorial; they defend their territories by biting and chasing other males away, and maintain an open space of a few tens of centimeters to 0.8 m between territories.

Fertilization Mechanism

Fertilization is internal but non-copulatory, and females often accept multiple spermatophores from different males.