The researchers who go in search of the Turkestanian salamander have their work cut out for them. When the species was first seen and collected in 1909, its range was loosely described as being "between Pamir and Samarkand," which means the salamander could be living in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, or Uzbekistan. The intrepid scientists will choose a path based on the areas most suitable for salamanders within the expedition route of the original collector.