Paedomorphy, where adults do not metamorphose and instead retain their gills and stay aquatic, is more common in the alpine newt than in other European newts.
It is almost exclusively found in the southern part of the range (but not in the Cantabrian subspecies, I. a. cyreni).
Paedomorphic adults are more pale in colour than metamorphic ones.
Only part of a population is usually paedomorphic, and metamorphosis can follow if the pool dries out.
Paedomorphic and metamorphic newts sometimes prefer different prey, but they do interbreed.
Overall, paedomorphy appears to be a facultative strategy under particular conditions which are not fully understood.
Paedomorphy, where adults do not metamorphose and instead retain their gills and stay aquatic, is more common in the alpine newt than in other European newts. It is almost exclusively found in the southern part of the range (but not in the Cantabrian subspecies, I. a. cyreni). Paedomorphic adults are more pale in colour than metamorphic ones. Only part of a population is usually paedomorphic, and metamorphosis can follow if the pool dries out. Paedomorphic and metamorphic newts sometimes prefer different prey, but they do interbreed. Overall, paedomorphy appears to be a facultative strategy under particular conditions which are not fully understood.
Alpine newt