Euproctus


Euproctus, the European mountain salamanders, is a genus of salamanders in the family Salamandridae from Sardinia and Corsica.

Species

There are two species:
ImageScientific nameCommon nameDistribution
Euproctus montanus Corsican brook salamanderCorsica
Euproctus platycephalus Sardinian brook salamanderSardinia, Italy

The Pyrenean brook salamander used to be included in this genus as Euproctus asper, but was moved to Calotriton in 2005. Its superficial similarity with Euproctus likely represents convergent evolution: strongly depressed head and body, and reduction or even absence of lungs, are adaptations to fast-running, well-oxygenated mountain streams.