Zool 406 -Salamander ID

ID the Family:

• Elongate

• Dorsoventrally Flattened

• Fleshy Dermal Folds

• CG above ribs

• Permenently aquatic

Cyptobranchidae

‘Hellbenders’

ID the Family:

• Small to medium sized

• Larvae have external gills, gill slits and caudal finds

• Robust-heavy bodied adults

• CG on trunk

• well developed lungs

• External Fertilization

Hynobiidae

‘Giant Salamanders’

ID the Family:

• Paedomorphic

• Long and slender

• External gills, gill slits

• Small forelimbs and no hind limb

• Caudal grooves on ribs

• Use suction feeding

• External Fertilization

Sirenidae

‘Sirens’

ID the Family:

• Adults have robust bodies

• Short, blunt heads

• CG above ribs

• Some are paedomorphic (neotenic) retaining external gills

• Some have facultative metamorphosis depending on environmental conditions

Ambystomatidae

‘Mole Salamanders’

ID the Family:

• Large body length (>6 inches)

• CG above ribs

• Can lack metamorphosis, retain gills and an aquatic habitat

Dicamptontidae

‘Pacific Giant Salamanders’

ID the Family:

• Elongate, heavy bodied and eel like

• Forelimbs and hindlimbs are reduced; may be non functional

• Larvae hatch with external gills and partially transform

• Permanently aquatic; adults lack gills and use lungs

• Courtship; internal fertilization

Amphuimas

ID the Family:

Largest salamander family with >376 species

• Diversity of body types

• Lower jaw is immoveable; uses tongue protrusion

• No coastal grooves

• Nasiolabial grooves

Plethodontidae

‘Lungless Salamanders’

ID the Family:

• Retain gills all throughout their lives; large filamentous gills and caudal fins

• Slender body

• Reduced number of toes on hind limbs (<5)

• Moderately large

• External gills

• Coastal grooves on trunk

Proteidae

‘Mud Puppies’

ID the Family:

• Wide range of body types

• Moderately slender to robust with well developed to moderately short limbs

• Aposematic colouring

• Coastal grooves above ribs

• Highly terrestrial; partly aquatic or entirely aquatic

• Toxic skin secretions

Salmandridae

‘Newts’

ID the Family:

• Heavy bodied, heavy tailed

• 4 short, well developed limbs

• Lacrimal present

• Coastal grooves above ribs

Rhyacotritonidae

ID the Species:

Ambystoma macrodactylum

‘Long-Toed Salamander’

ID the species:

Ambystoma tigrinum

‘Tiger Salamander’