{
  "abstract": "The cave salamander Proteus represents a flagship and keystone genus of the subterranean ecosystems of the Dinaric Karst. Currently classified as “Vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, its long-term monitoring is essential for understanding subterranean ecosystem dynamics and for guiding evidence-based conservation strategies. Given its protected status and the strict permitting requirements for research and monitoring, the development of non-invasive protocols is of paramount importance. The present study aims to present a non-invasive, underwater-capable photographic tracking method for this highly vulnerable subterranean species that minimizes handling-related stress and potential impacts on animal welfare. Specifically, this work explores the application of UV photography as a novel tool for the detection and characterization of individual skin patterns, enabling the recognition of over 300 individual specimens based on unique and naturally occurring morphological features. By providing a reliable means of distinguishing individuals without the need for invasive or potentially stressful traditional marking techniques, such as physical tagging, UV-based imaging may represent a valuable alternative for the long-term monitoring of olm populations. This approach contributes to the development of scientifically grounded, welfare-centered monitoring protocols that effectively balance conservation requirements with the highest standards of animal care while improving the accuracy, repeatability, and ethical sustainability of individual-based ecological studies. Importantly, although recent evidence has revealed the presence of at least two distinct Proteus species within the study area, the present imaging-based approach remains effective for the individual identification of specimens across both species. This demonstrates that the method captures sufficient inter-individual variation to reliably distinguish individuals, irrespective of their species identity, highlighting its robustness and broad applicability in sympatric Proteus spp. populations.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Società Adriatica di Speleologia",
    "Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Marco Restaino"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Chiara Manfrin"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e2vw8dz3en669.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3897/herpetozoa.39.e208806",
  "fulltext_url": "https://herpetozoa.pensoft.net/article/208806/download/xml/",
  "id": "e2vw8dz3en669",
  "issns": [
    "2682-955X",
    "1013-4425"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.39.e208806",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "QL1-991"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1911|Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223104119",
  "pdf_url": "https://herpetozoa.pensoft.net/article/208806/download/pdf/",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-29",
  "publisher": "Pensoft Publishers",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e2vw8dz3en669.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-31T14:22:31Z",
      "native_id": "01d2cbd49df44530b333b7f8b146e57d",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.39.e208806"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:1911|Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy",
      "subfield": "evolutionary-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Non-invasive UV-A photo-identification for individual recognition in olms (genus Proteus)",
  "title_text": "Non-invasive UV-A photo-identification for individual recognition in olms (genus Proteus)",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-31T14:22:31Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e2vw8dz3en669",
  "venue": "Herpetozoa",
  "versions": []
}