''Ichthyosaura'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of newts in the family

Salamandridae Salamandridae is a family of salamanders consisting of true salamanders and newts. Salamandrids are distinguished from other salamanders by the lack of rib or costal grooves along the sides of their bodies and by their rough skin. Their skin is v ...

, found in Europe. It contains one

extant Extant is the opposite of the word extinct. It may refer to: * Extant hereditary titles * Extant literature, surviving literature, such as ''Beowulf'', the oldest extant manuscript written in English * Extant taxon, a taxon which is not extinct, ...

species: the alpine newt (''Ichthyosaura alpestris''). One fossil species from the

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recen ...

, ''

Ichthyosaura randeckensis ''Ichthyosaura randeckensis'' is a fossil newt species in the family Salamandridae. It was described in 2013 from a Miocene volcanic lake deposit, the Randeck Maar Formation, in Germany. The fossil specimen is fully articulated and long. A phy ...

'', has also been referred to this genus, although this has been challenged. The species is gonochoric and reproduce sexually. The alpine newt was long included in '' Triturus'' along with most other European newts. As this genus was found to contain several distinct evolutionary lineages, the alpine newt was split off as genus ''Mesotriton'' in 2004. However, the name ''Ichthyosaura'' was published earlier and is now accepted as the valid genus name for the alpine newt, while ''Mesotriton'' is a

junior synonym The Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently. * In botanical nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that applies to a taxon that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linna ...

. "''Ichthyosaura''", Greek for "fish lizard", refers to a

nymph A nymph ( grc, νύμφη, nýmphē, el, script=Latn, nímfi, label=Modern Greek; , ) in ancient Greek folklore is a minor female nature deity. Different from Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature, are ty ...

-like creature in classical mythology.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q11844306 Newts Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille Amphibians of Europe Amphibian genera