Four subspecies (see table below) were recognised for the alpine newt by Roček and colleagues (2003),[14] followed by later authors,[15]:214[13]:16–36 while some previously described subspecies were not retained. The four subspecies correspond only in part to the five major lineages identified within the species (see section Evolution below): The western populations of the nominate subspecies I. a. alpestris, together with the Cantabrian I. a. cyreni and the Apennine I. a. apuana form one group, while the eastern populations of I. a. alpestris are genetically closer to the Greek I. a. veluchiensis.[1] Differences in body shape and colour between the subspecies are not consistent.[15]:214[13]:16–36