Morphological differentiation of the alpine newt (Triturus alpestris) in the Balkans: Taxonomic implications

A comprehensive survey of the Balkan alpine newt was undertaken to describe morphological differentiation between populations, and to test the validit y of previously described subspecies. Thirty population samples derived fro m the major part of the Balkans, excluding Bulgaria and Albania, were studi ed for patterns of both morphometric and qualitative trait variability. On the basis of morphology, separate taxonomic status cannot be allocated to a ny of the currently recognized Balkan subspecies, with the exception of the southernmost (T, a. veluchiensis). Paedogenesis affected morphological var iability significantly. Variability among paedotypic populations was found to be lower than intrapopulation variability of metamorphosed individuals.