Development of microsatellites for the genus Salamandrina: A tool to discriminate between northern and southern spectacled salamanders (Salamandrina perspicillata and Salamandrina terdigitata) and their hybrids

• We developed 10 microsatellite primer pairs for the genus Salamandrina, an amphiban endemic to Italy.
• Microsatellite loci cross-amplified in S. perspicillata and S. terdigitata.
• Six loci were diagnostics for species identification.
• They will be useful to assess population genetic structure and investigate hybrid zones between the two species.

Ten microsatellite loci were developed for the northern spectacled salamander, Salamandrina perspicillata, and cross-amplification was obtained for the southern spectacled salamander, Salamandrina terdigitata. These two species are the sole representative of the genus Salamandrina, a threatened amphibian endemic to the Italian peninsula. The two salamanders show a parapatric distribution with a contact zone in Central Italy. All but one locus were polymorphic and six microsatellites were found diagnostic for species discrimination. We genotyped a total of 169 individuals. Allelic diversity was 5.1 ± 1.5 SE in S. perspicillata and 1.9 ± 0.31 SE in S. terdigitata. Mean observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.51 ± 0.06 SE and 0.61 ± 0.07 SE, respectively in the northern spectacled salamander and 0.35 ± 0.15 SE and 0.35 ± 0.09 SE, respectively in the southern spectacled salamander. These new markers will provide an excellent tool to assess population structure and genetic diversity in Salamandrina and will be used to investigate natural hybridization events between northern and southern spectacled salamanders.