Amphibians- Salamanders + Caecilians + Frogs

Salamander Order

Caudata

Caecilian Order

Gymnophiona

Salamander families of external fertilizers

• Cryptobranchidae

• Hynobiidae

• Sirenidae

Cryptobranchidae

Distribution:

• eastern China

• southern Japan

• eastern United States
  
  Traits:

• the largest salamanders

• eyes are lidless

• baggy skin for cutaneous respiration

• flattened body shape

• incomplete metamorphosis

• adults have hidden gill slit

• suction feeders with no tongue

• four good limbs

• external fertilization

• nest guarding by males

Cryptobranchidae (LAB pic)

Hellbender

Hynobiidae

Distribution:

• Asia, from Ural Mountains to Pacific (including Japan and Taiwan)

• south to China,

• Afghanistan

• Iran

Traits:

• Complete metamorphosis (no gills or gill slits)

• typical terrestrial body plan

• distinguished from other salamanders by osteology (bone)

• Lungs reduced in some genera

  • completely absent in
    one genus

Hynobiidae (LAB pic)

Sirenidae

Distribution:

• Michigan

• southeastern United States

• extreme northeastern Mexico

  
  Traits:

• Eel-like

• incomplete metamorphosis (paedomorphic)

  • adults have external gills

• keratinized beak with nonpedicellate teeth,

• two forelimbs with reduced number of digits,

• no pelvic girdle

• external fertilization

• paternal care

Sirenidae (LAB pic)

Salamandridae

Distribution:

• Europe

• Turkey and the Levant

• southern China and northern Indochina

• Japan

• northwestern Africa

• North America
  

  CA species: Taricha (4 sp.)

  
  Traits:

• Variable in external appearance

• all have four good limbs

• most have complete metamorphosis

• many are aquatic with smooth skin and fins

• terrestrial individuals with rugose skin

• all have toxic skin secretions

• often brightly colored

Salamandridae (LAB pic)

Dicamptodontidae

Distribution:

• Pacific Northwest from California to southern Canada

• Rocky Mountains of Idaho and Montana

CA species: 2 sp., Dicamptodon ensatus, Dicamptodon tenebrosus

Traits:

• Large, brown mottled with black

• absent or facultative metamorphosis

Dicamptodontidae (LAB pic)

Ambystomatidae

Distribution:

• North America, from Canada south to central Mexico

• from the Pacific to the
  Atlantic

CA species: Ambystoma (4 sp., 2 of which are federally endangered)

Traits:

• Few distinctive characters

• moderate size

• smooth skin

• robust body

• short blunt head

Ambystomatidae (LAB pic)

Proteidae

Distribution:

• eastern United States and Canada

• east coast of Adriatic Sea
  
  Traits:

• Paedomorphic

• adults have large external gills

• caudal fin

• no eyelids

• no upper jaw

• four good limbs

• reduced number of digits on front & rear limbs

  • European species is cave-dwelling, Proteus anguinu

Rhyacotritonidae

Distribution:

• Pacific Northwest from California to Washington

CA species: Rhyacotriton variegatus

Traits:

• Small (< 6 cm)

• semi-aquatic and found in fast-flowing streams

• complete
  metamorphosis

• reduced lungs

• large eyes

• square gland behind vent of males

• plain brown or olive colored dorsum with mottling

Rhyacotritonidae (LAB pic)

Amphiumidae

Distribution:

• southeastern United States

Traits: '

• Eel-like

• incomplete metamorphosis

• lack eyelids

• adults do not have external gills (but
  retain one pair of gill slits)

• four tiny legs with reduced number of digits.

Amphiumidae (LAB pic)

Plethodontidae

Distribution:

• disjunct distributions in eastern and western North America, Latin America,
  southern Europe, Korea

CA species: Batrachoseps (22 sp.), Hydromantes (5 sp.), Plethodon (4 sp.), Aneides (6 sp.),
Ensatina (1 ring sp.)

Traits:

• Highly diverse

• some are worm-like

• some are arboreal

• some are aquatic cave dwellers

• All lack lungs

• all have nasolabial groove

• many have direct development

Plethodontidae (LAB pic)

Lots of variation

Gymnomorphia

Caecilians

Distribution:

• pantropical;

  • Central and South America,

  • East and West Africa,

  • southern India

  • Southeast Asia

Rhinophrynidae

Distribution:

• Southern Texas to Costa Rica

Traits:

• Egg shapes body

• short limbs

• spade-like feet

• explosive breeder

Larval Type:

I

Rhinophrynidae (LAB pic)

Pipidae

Distribution:

• Africa and South America

Traits:

• Flat

• completley aquatic

• long legs

• webbed toes with claws

• lack tongues

• modified ears

• laryngeal apparatus

Larval Type:

I

Pipidae (LAB pic)

Bombinatoridae

Distribution:

• Europe and Asia

Traits:

• bright orange/ blue bellies

• unique features of skull and hyloid

Larval Type:

III

Bombinatoridae (LAB pic)

Ascaphidae

Distribution:

• Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies

Traits:

• males have “tails”

• prepubis not fused to the pelvis

• nine presacral vertebrae

Larval Type:

III

Ascaphidae (LAB pic)

Megophryidae

Distribution:

• S China, SE Asia, Indonesia, Philipenes

Traits:

• Leaf shaped head

• horns above eyes

Larval Type:

IV

Megophryidae (LAB pic)

Calyptocephalellidae

Distribution:

• Chile

Traits:

• Blunt head with elongate bumps on dorsum

Larval Type:

IV

Calyptocephalellidae (LAB pic)

Hylidae

Distribution:

• Worldwide, excpet sub-saharan Africa

Traits:

• Large toe pads

• long legs

• often webbed feet

• terminal phalanges hook- like

Larval Type:

IV

Hylidae (LAB pic)

Bufonidae

Distribution:

• Worldwide, excpet east of Wallace’s line

Traits:

• Warty glandular skin

• paratoid gland

• usually terrestial

• stout body

• short limbs

Larval Type:

IV

Bufonidae (LAB pic)

Dendrobatidae

Distribution:

• Central and South America

Traits:

• small

• bright, poisonous

• two scutes atop each toe tip

• parental care

• terrestial

• diurnal

Larval Type:

IV

Dendrobatidae (LAB pic)

Rhinodermatidae

Distribution:

• South America

Traits:

• fleshy probiscus projects from tip of snout

• males carry larvae in their vocal pouches

Larval Type:

IV

Rhinodermatidae (LAB pic)

Leptodactylidae

Distribution:

• Central and South America

Traits:

• small

• many are foam nesters

Larval Type:

IV

Leptodactylidae (LAB pic)

Ceratophryidae

Distribution:

• South America

Traits:

• huge head

• enormous gape

• mimics dead leaves

Larval Type:

IV

Ceratophryidae (LAB pic)

Alsodidae (LAB pic)

Microhylidae

Distribution:

• Worldwide, expect Europe and North Africa

Traits:

• fold behind head

• narrow pointed head

• teardroped/ oval bodies

Larval Type:

II

Microhylidae (LAB pic)

Rhacophoridae

Distribution:

• sub-Saharan Africa

• Madagascar

• South Asia

Traits:

• Enlarged toe-discs

• large eyes with horizontal pupils

• many have flash coloration in inner thigh

• some glide

Larval Type:

II

Rhacophoridae (LAB pic)

Hyperoliidae

Distribution:

• sub-Saharan Africa

• Madagascar

• Seychelles

Traits:

• many arboareal

• toe discs

• brightly colored

• intercalary elements present in digits

Larval Type:

IV

Hyperoliidae (LAB pic)

Mantellidae

Distribution:

• Mayotte Island

• Madagascar

  Traits:

• convergent with other anuran species

• hard to ID

Larval Type:

IV

Mantellidae (LAB pic)

Ranidae

Distribution:

• Nearly worldwide

Traits:

• long legs

• long toes

• webbed feet

• mostly riparian

Larval Type:

IV

Ranidae (LAB pic)

Ranidae (LAB pic)

Scaphiopodidae

Distribution:

• Nearly worldwide

Traits:

• spadefoot

• plump body

• narrow head

• dry habitats

Larval Type:

IV

Scaphiopodidae (LAB pic)

Tadpole type I

• no keratinous mouthparts

• paired spiracles

• mouth with barbels
  (some)

• Pipidae and
  Rhinophrynidae

Tadpole type II

• no keratinous mouthparts

• single medial posterior spiracle

• lack barbels

• Microhylidae

Tadpole Type III

• keratinous mouthparts
  present

• midventral spiracle

• Ascaphidae and Bombinatoridae

Tadpole Type IV

• keratinous mouthparts
  present

• sinistral (left side)

• spiracle

• majority of anurans