Description

The appearence of this species is quite different among subspecies; Salamandra infraimmaculata infraimmaculata is large (up to 324 mm), and has big yellow dots over the whole body, except the belly. Usually there are four yellow spots on the head; one on each paratoid and one above each eye. S. i. orientalis is in appearence about the same as S. i. infraimmaculata, but has small, yellow spots over the whole body, exept the belly. The validity of this subspecies is questioned. S. i. semenovi is large, and has rose-like, round spots over the whole body. The head is fairly round.

This is the largest fire salamander species; it can reach a length of 324 mm. The females are usually larger than males. This species has no coloration on the belly, the underside is completely black.

DNA research suggests that populations from the Mediterranean coast of Turkey are very different in comparison to all three subspecies. Populations east of that coast are more like the populations in central Turkey. Populations in Israel also stand out because of the DNA difference. The S. i. semenovi populations in Iran are similair to those in east Turkey. Finally, the populations of S. salamandra in west Turkey are more similair to S. infraimmaculata than S. salamandra. (Steinfartz et al. 2000)