Lungless salamander
Encyclopedia
The Plethodontidae, or Lungless salamanders, are a family of salamander
s. Most species are native to the western hemisphere, from British Columbia to Brazil, although a few species are found in Sardinia
, Europe south of the Alps, and South Korea
. In terms of number of species, they are by far the largest group of salamanders.
s, conducting respiration through their skin, and the tissues lining their mouths. They must keep these surfaces moist in order to respire, and so have to live in damp environments, such as beneath logs, in caves or in wet rock crevices, and only venture out in humid weather. Another distinctive feature is the presence of a vertical slit between the nostril and upper lip, known as the "naso-labial groove". The groove is lined with glands, and enhances the salamander's chemoreception
.
Adult lungless salamanders have four limbs, with four toes on the forelimbs, and usually with five on the hindlimbs. Many species lack an aquatic larval stage. In many species eggs
are laid on land, and the young hatch already possessing an adult body form. Many species have a projectile tongue and hyoid apparatus, which they can fire almost a body length at high speed to capture prey.
Measured in individual numbers, they are very successful animals where they occur. In some places they make up the dominant biomass of vertebrates. Due to their modest size and low metabolism, they are able to feed on prey such as collembola, which are usually too small for other terrestrial vertebrates. This gives them access to a whole ecological niche with minimal competition from other groups.
divided among the following genera, making up the majority of known salamander species.
Following a major revision in 2006 the genus Haideotriton was found to be a synonym of Eurycea
while the genera Ixalotriton and Lineatriton were made synonyms of Pseudoeurycea
.
Salamander
Salamander is a common name of approximately 500 species of amphibians. They are typically characterized by a superficially lizard-like appearance, with their slender bodies, short noses, and long tails. All known fossils and extinct species fall under the order Caudata, while sometimes the extant...
s. Most species are native to the western hemisphere, from British Columbia to Brazil, although a few species are found in Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
, Europe south of the Alps, and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. In terms of number of species, they are by far the largest group of salamanders.
Biology
A number of features distinguish the Plethodontids from other salamanders. Most significantly, they lack lungLung
The lung is the essential respiration organ in many air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of the heart...
s, conducting respiration through their skin, and the tissues lining their mouths. They must keep these surfaces moist in order to respire, and so have to live in damp environments, such as beneath logs, in caves or in wet rock crevices, and only venture out in humid weather. Another distinctive feature is the presence of a vertical slit between the nostril and upper lip, known as the "naso-labial groove". The groove is lined with glands, and enhances the salamander's chemoreception
Chemosensor
A chemoreceptor, also known as chemosensor, is a sensory receptor that transduces a chemical signal into an action potential. In more general terms, a chemosensor detects certain chemical stimuli in the environment.- Classes :...
.
Adult lungless salamanders have four limbs, with four toes on the forelimbs, and usually with five on the hindlimbs. Many species lack an aquatic larval stage. In many species eggs
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
are laid on land, and the young hatch already possessing an adult body form. Many species have a projectile tongue and hyoid apparatus, which they can fire almost a body length at high speed to capture prey.
Measured in individual numbers, they are very successful animals where they occur. In some places they make up the dominant biomass of vertebrates. Due to their modest size and low metabolism, they are able to feed on prey such as collembola, which are usually too small for other terrestrial vertebrates. This gives them access to a whole ecological niche with minimal competition from other groups.
Taxonomy
The family Plethodontidae consists of 4 subfamilies and about 380 speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
divided among the following genera, making up the majority of known salamander species.
| Subfamily | Genus Scientific Name and Author | Genus Common name | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolitoglossinae |
|||
| Batrachoseps | Slender salamanders | ||
| Bolitoglossa Bolitoglossa Bolitoglossa also called Tropical climbing salamanders or Web-footed Salamanders is a genus of salamanders in the Plethodontidae family. Their range is Central and South America: Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, northeastern Brazil, and central Bolivia... |
Tropical climbing salamanders | ||
| Bradytriton | Finca Chiblac salamander | ||
| Chiropterotriton Chiropterotriton Chiropterotriton or Splayfoot Salamanders is a genus of salamander in the Plethodontidae family, endemic to Mexico.-Species:This genus includes the following 12 species:... |
Splay-foot salamanders | ||
| Cryptotriton Cryptotriton Cryptotriton or Hidden Salamanders is a genus of salamander in the Plethodontidae family, endemic to Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala.-Species:The following seven species are included in this genus:... |
Hidden salamanders | ||
| Dendrotriton Dendrotriton Dendrotriton or bromeliad salamanders is a genus of salamanders in the Plethodontidae family, endemic to South and Central America: from Southwestern Chiapas, Mexico, to Honduras. These are lungless species possessing a slender body, long tail and prominent eyes... |
Bromeliad salamanders | ||
| Nototriton Nototriton Nototriton, commonly referred to as Moss Salamanders is a genus in the Plethodontidae family of salamanders, which is characterized by their absence of lungs; they instead achieve respiration through their skin and the tissues lining their mouth... |
Moss salamanders | ||
| Nyctanolis | Long-limbed salamanders | ||
| Oedipina Oedipina Oedipina or worm salamanders is a genus in the Plethodontidae family of salamanders, which is characterized by their absence of lungs; they instead achieve respiration through their skin and the tissues lining their mouth. They are endemic to Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador... |
Worm salamanders | ||
| Parvimolge | Tropical dwarf salamanders | ||
| Pseudoeurycea Pseudoeurycea Pseudoeurycea is a genus of salamander in the Plethodontidae family.It contains the following species:* Tlaconete * Pseudoeurycea altamontana* Pseudoeurycea amuzga* Pseudoeurycea anitae... |
False brook salamanders | ||
| Thorius Thorius Thorius also known as Minute Salamanders is a genus of salamanders in the Plethodontidae family distributed from Western and Southern North America south to Brazil. The members of this genus are characterized by a small body - some species are less than 2 cm in length.-Species:This genus is... |
Minute salamanders | ||
| Hemidactyliinae |
Hemidactylium | Four-toed salamander | |
| Plethodontinae |
Aneides | Climbing salamanders | |
| Atylodes | Sardinian Cave Salamander | ||
| Desmognathus Desmognathus Desmognathus is a genus of lungless salamanders known as dusky salamanders, ranging from Eastern USA to Southeastern Canada.-Species:This genus includes the following 21 species:... |
Dusky salamanders | ||
| Ensatina Ensatina Ensatina eschscholtzii is a complex of plethodontid salamanders found in coniferous forests, oak woodland and chaparral from British Columbia, through Washington, Oregon, across California , all the way down to Baja California in Mexico.-As a ring species:The... |
Ensatinas | ||
| Hydromantes Hydromantes Hydromantes commonly referred to as Web-toed Salamanders is a genus of the Plethodontidae family of salamanders, which is characterized by their absence of lungs; they instead achieve respiration through their skin and the tissues lining their mouth. They are endemic to Northern California, USA... |
Web-toed & European cave sals | ||
| Karsenia | Korean crevice salamanders | ||
| Phaeognathus | Red Hills salamanders | ||
| Plethodon | Slimy & mountain salamanders | ||
| Speleomantes Speleomantes Speleomantes is a genus of salamander in the Plethodontidae family.It contains the following species:* Strinati's Cave salamander * Sarrabus' Cave Salamander... |
Cave Salamanders | ||
| Spelerpinae |
Eurycea Eurycea Eurycea is a genus of salamanders, native to North America. These salamanders are commonly referred to as brook salamanders.- Taxonomy :... |
North American brook salamanders | |
| Gyrinophilus Gyrinophilus Gyrinophilus, commonly referred to as Spring salamanders, is a genus of salamanders in the Plethodontidae family, endemic to the Appalachian mountains of the eastern USA and Canada. Their habitat is under rocks in cold, clear springs and streams in forested areas.-Species:This genus consists of the... |
Spring salamanders | ||
| Pseudotriton Pseudotriton Pseudotriton is a genus of salamander in the Plethodontidae family.It contains the following species:* Mud salamander * Red salamander... |
Mud and red salamanders | ||
| Stereochilus | Many-lined salamanders | ||
| Urspelerpes Urspelerpes Urspelerpes brucei, the Patch-nosed salamander, is a lungless miniature salamander found in streams of South Carolina and Georgia, United States. The species is the sole member of the genus Urspelerpes within the family Plethodontidae... |
Patch-nosed salamander | ||
Following a major revision in 2006 the genus Haideotriton was found to be a synonym of Eurycea
Eurycea
Eurycea is a genus of salamanders, native to North America. These salamanders are commonly referred to as brook salamanders.- Taxonomy :...
while the genera Ixalotriton and Lineatriton were made synonyms of Pseudoeurycea
Pseudoeurycea
Pseudoeurycea is a genus of salamander in the Plethodontidae family.It contains the following species:* Tlaconete * Pseudoeurycea altamontana* Pseudoeurycea amuzga* Pseudoeurycea anitae...
.