Salamandra algira

Narrow, somewhat depressed head with rounded snout and conspicuous paratoids. Gular fold present. Subcylindric tail, somewhat laterally compressed. Smooth dorsum with parasagittal and lateral row of pores on each side. Cloacal opening similar in both sexes, lips somewhat larger in males. Background color blackish with yellow spots variable in form and arrangement (Text from Salvador, 1996, © Smithsonian Herpetological Information Service).

The North African populations are characterized by their relatively small size, and a long and narrow tail, and a short, narrow, flattened head with short, narrow paratoids. Pattern varies from two rows of rather long marks on the dorsum to a single row of circular marks or to scattered, isolated spots.The venter is black, sometimes with yellow spots (Text from Salvador, 1996, © Smithsonian Herpetological Information Service).

This species is black with yellow spots with smooth skin. It has kidney-shaped paratoids on the upper part of the head (Salvador, 1996).

This species is found in Northern Morocco, northern Algeria, and northern Tunisia. It occurs to 2010 m in Morocco, 1550 m in Algeria, and 1500 m in Tunisia (Salvador, 1996).

In Algeria it lives in Cedrus and Quercus woods. During the day it is found under stones and among roots. It lives near streams. It has been observed in caves. Groups of 15 to 20 active salamanders have been seen in November in Algeria (Text from Salvador, 1996, © Smithsonian Herpetological Information Service).

Birth of 16 larvae were reported in May in Algeria. A female caught in December in Morocco had 15 larvae of 27 mm in total length. Towards the end of February larvae in the water in the Rif mountains, and recently metamorphosed individuals under stones were observed (Text from Salvador, 1996, © Smithsonian Herpetological Information Service).

It is up to 226 mm in total length (Salvador, 1996).