Authors: Gad Degani, Eliav Peretz, Sanaa Musa.
We conducted an untargeted metabolomics analysis of the skin mucus of Near Eastern fire salamanders (Salamandra infraimmaculata) using LC-MS/MS. Samples were collected from salamanders living in three distinct locations along the southern border of their distribution in Israel: Kibbutz Sasa in the Upper Galilee and Manof in the Lower Galilee, both semi-arid mountainous regions, and Dan River, which has a constant year-round water supply with stable temperature. We identified and described 10 metabolites found in the mucus of S. infraimmaculata in all three habitats. These substances belong to various chemical groups, and we provide their chemical structures and secretion levels. Salamanders from Dan had a greater number of metabolites (5 out of 10) at higher concentrations compared to the Manof and Sasa populations. In addition, differences were observed in 6 mucus metabolites among the mountain populations. Findings support the hypothesis that the extreme habitat conditions in the southern range influence the quantity and composition of salamander mucus secretions.
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