The Italian Alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris apuanus) is a subspecies of the alpine newt, found primarily in the north of Italy. This small, semiaquatic amphibian is known for its striking breeding colors, with males displaying a vivid orange belly and a bright blueish or grayish dorsum during the reproductive season. Females are typically less colorful, with a more subdued palette, but nonetheless possessing beautiful markings.
Alpine Newts inhabit much of Europe, however this particular subspecies inhabit mountainous regions, preferring clean, still, or slow-moving freshwater bodies like ponds, small lakes, and alpine pools for breeding. Outside the breeding season, they sometimes venture into moist terrestrial habitats such as forests and grasslands, although apuanus is one of the most aquatic subspecies and often spends its adulthood in water. Their diet consists of small invertebrates, including insects, worms, and aquatic larvae.
Breeding occurs in spring, triggered by rising temperatures and increasing water availability. Males perform courtship displays to attract females, who lay eggs individually on submerged plants. The larvae hatch in water, where they develop before undergoing metamorphosis into juveniles.
