Longest gestation period (amphibian)

- Who
- Alpine salamander, Salamandra atra
- What
- 37-38 months year(s)
- Where
- Switzerland
- When
- N/A
The longest gestation period not just for an amphibian but for any terrestrial vertebrate is an average 37-38 months, as exhibited by the alpine salamander (Salamandra atra), native to the Swiss Alps. Occasionally at higher elevations, this may creep up to four years (1,700 m+) or even five years (2,500 m+), making this species a contender for the longest gestation of any animal.
This is at least a year longer than that of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), for which the maximum gestation period on record is 25 months (the longest documented for any mammal).