This is a restricted concept of this species following the split of the broader concept into this and S. tridactyla (Malyarchuk et al. 2010). Following genetic analysis, some subpopulations in Primorsky Krai in Russia, in eastern China and at the extreme northeast of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have now been assigned to Salamandrella tridactyla (Malyarchuk et al. 2010).

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Not Recorded

In the European region, this species is restricted to northern parts of European Russia. It is assessed as Least Concern for Europe in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats and presumed large population. It is not recorded from the EU 27 member states.

Within the European region, this species ranges from the north of European Russia (Arkhangelskaya Province) to the Ural Mountains and in the south Kostroma and Nizhniy Novgorod provinces and Udmurtia and Komi republics.

Globally, this species is widespread across Asiatic parts of Russia, and also occurs in northern China, northern Mongolia and Kazakhstan, on the islands of Sakhalin, Kunashir (Russia) and on Hokkaido (Japan). Globally, it has an elevational range between 2-2,250 m asl (Speybroeck et al. 2016).

This species is generally common over its moderately wide range in Europe.

This species is found in wet coniferous, mixed, deciduous forests in the taiga zone and riparian groves in tundra and forest steppe. In forests, it is mostly found in glades and along the edges of woods not far from stagnant or semi-flowing waters. It is more rarely found in meadows, willow stands, fields, suburban and urban areas. In the Polar Urals, the species is found on the shores of small lakes surrounded with swamps in shrubby and sedge-shrubby tundras. In the forest steppe region it is found in marshes in meadows, meadow steppes and small-leafed forests. It breeds by larval development in ditches, pools, and slow-flowing streams, with breeding season occurring April to early June. It preys on insects, molluscs and earthworms.

This species is locally threatened by the desiccation of wetlands, loss of terrestrial habitat, pollution, increased urbanisation, and the construction of roads and mega-solar power plants.

Specimens of this species tested negative for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Civiš et al. 2013).

There are no records of this species being utilised.

Conservation Actions In-Place
The species is present in many protected areas. It is listed in the Red Data Books of the Middle Urals (Perm and Sverdlovsk provinces of Russia).

Research Needed
Surveys to determine the current population size, status and trends are recommended.