Salamanders &
Newts
Herpetoculture
Pensacola Jr College
Classification
w Class Amphibia
w Order Urodela (newts and
salamanders)
Family Cryptobranchidae
Family Sirenidae
Family Amphiumidae
Family Plethodontidae
Family Proteidae
Family Salamandridae
Order Urodela
w Northern Hemisphere,
temperate zones
w Physical characteristics:
Elongated body, usually
laterally compressed tail
4 limbs in most, more rear
digits than front digits
Smooth moist skin, no scales
Breath through varied means
Order Urodela
(contd)
w Lifestyle:
Terrestrial, amphib, or
aquatic
Carnivorous
Solitary, generally
nocturnal
Defensive antipredator
behaviors, including toxic skin, warning colors, unken reflex
Order Urodela
(contd)
w Reproduction:
Migratory in spring for
breeding, use magnetic field or polarized light detection to navigate
Most have internal
fertilization with spermatophore
Males use amplexus or
courting rituals
Females have spermatheca
Cryptobranchidae =
Chinese and Japanese giant salamanders, hellbender
Family
Cryptobranchidae
w Range: SE U.S., China, Japan
w Physical characteristics:
Largest salamanders (to 5
ft)
Flattened head, short tail
Flank skin folds
4 front, 5 rear digits
No eyelids
Dark coloration
Family
Cryptobranchidae (contd)
w Completely aquatic (but use
lungs, no gills), limited to flowing water
w Nocturnal (use smell and
touch receptors, poor vision)
w Feeding: fish, salamanders,
worms, insects, crayfish, snails
Family
Cryptobranchidae (contd)
w Reproduction:
Male creates hollow
Female lays strings of
200-500 eggs
male fertilizes them and
guards nest (2-3 months to hatching)
w Lifespan up to 52 years!
Hellbender
Sirenidae = Sirens
Family Sirenidae
w Range: U.S. and Northern
Mexico
w Physical characteristics:
Eel-shaped body
Small forelimbs (3-4 digits)
No hindlimbs
External gills
Small eyes with no eyelids
1 3 feet long
Family Sirenidae (contd)
w Completely aquatic in muddy
pools (both lungs and gills)
w Dormancy during dry periods
by burrowing into muddy bottoms, form skin cocoon
w Nocturnal
w Feeding: small invertebrates
among weeds/ aquatic plants
Family Sirenidae
(contd)
w Reproduction:
Internal fertilization??
Eggs laid singly on plants
Hatching in 1 3 months
Dwarf Siren
Narrow-striped
Dwarf Siren
Lesser Siren
Greater Siren
Amphiumidae =
amphiumas / congo eels
Family Amphiumidae
w Range: SE U.S.
w Physical characteristics:
Eel-shaped body
Tiny front and hind limbs (1
3 digits)
Smooth slippery skin
No eyelids
1.5 to 4 feet long
Family Amphiumidae
(contd)
w Completely aquatic in
stagnant water and swamps (use lungs, no gills but one gill slit remnant)
w Nocturnal burrower
w Feeding: crayfish, frogs, small
snakes, fish
Family Amphiumidae
(contd)
w Reproduction:
Internal fertilization
Female lays about 200 eggs
in a single string
Maternal care until hatching
(5 months)
w Lifespan up to 27 years
1-toed Amphiuma
2-toed Amphiuma
3-toed Amphiuma
Proteidae = waterdogs,
mudpuppies, olms
Family Proteidae
w Range: E Europe, E half of
U.S.
w Physical characteristics:
4-13 inches long
Drab colors (gray/brown)
except the olm (white)
Thick bodied, 4 stubby limbs
with 4 digits each (exc. olm)
Vertical rib grooves
No eyelids
Family Proteidae
(contd)
w Completely aquatic in mud,
stagnant, or flowing water (lungs + gills, gill size depends on O2 flow
in area)
w Feeding: insects, crayfish,
fish
Family Proteidae
(contd)
w Reproduction:
Internal fertilization
Mate in Fall
20-200 eggs laid
individually in Spring
Male (?) guards, 5 - 9 week
incubation period
Up to 6 years to maturity
Alabama Waterdog
Gulf Coast
Waterdog
Neuse River
Waterdog
Dwarf Waterdog
Mudpuppy
Olm
Plethodontidae =
lungless salamanders
Family
Plethodontidae
w Range: N & S America,
southern Europe
w Physical characteristics:
2 8 inches long
Variety of colors
Long slender cylindrical
body and tail
4 limbs, 4 front/5 rear
digits
Family
Plethodontidae
w Physical characteristics:
Vertical rib grooves on
sides
Usually no gills, NO lungs
Moveable eyelids
Prominent nasolabial grooves
(carry odors to nose)
w Live in woodlands, caves,
mountain streams
w Aquatic, terrestrial,
arboreal
Family
Plethodontidae
w Depend entirely on skin /
buccal respiration
Skin must always be wet
Cannot grow large
Must be mostly inactive in
damp places, brief activity on wet nights
Low metabolic rate
Family
Plethodontidae
w Reproduction:
Internal fertilization using
spermatophore
Lay eggs in water (numbers
in the tens)
Maternal guarding
Hatch in 2 - 3 months, some
with no larval stage
Maturity at 2 5 years
Cave Salamander
Tennessee Cave
Salamander
California Slender
Salamander
Garden Slender
Salamander
Blackbelly Slender
Salamander
Channel Islands
Slender Salamander
Relictual Slender
Salamander
Kern Canyon
Slender Salamander
Tehachapi Slender
Salamander
Oregon Slender
Salamander
Apalachicola Dusky
Salamander
Southern Dusky
Salamander
Ouachita Dusky
Salamander
Dusky Salamander
Grotto Salamander
Pygmy Salamander
Red Salamander
Western Redback
Salamander
Redback Salamander
Western Slimy
Salamander
White-spotted
Slimy Salamander
Southeastern Slimy
Salamander
Texas Blind
Salamander
Northern 2-lined
Salamander
Southern 2-lined
Salamander
Mount Lyell
Salamander
Couer dAlene
Salamander
Larch Mountain
Salamander
Southern Torrent
Salamander
Salamandridae =
true salamanders (brook, fire types) and newts
Family
Salamandridae
w Range: temperate N America,
Europe, Africa, Asia
w Physical characteristics:
3 12 inches long
Variety of colors
Slender with long tail
Rough skin
Family
Salamandridae
w Physical characteristics:
4 limbs, 4 front / 4-5 rear
toes
No gills, have lungs
Large eyes w/ moveable lids
LACK vertical rib grooves
w Salamanders terrestrial as
adults (return to water only to breed / lay eggs)
Family Salamandridae
w Newt life cycle:
Larvae
1 7 years as an eft
(non-breeding terrestrial juvenile)
Adults spend half of year
(winter) on land, half of year aquatic (feeding, courtship, egglaying)
Family
Salamandridae
w Reproduction:
Internal fertilization using
spermatophore
Migration to breeding ponds
(pond fidelity) and courtship displays critical in this group
Females lay eggs (200-400)
on submerged vegetation or bears larvae
No guarding, temp dependent
incubation
Eft
Eastern Newt
Roughskinned Newt
California Newt
Ringed Salamander
Flatwoods
Salamander
Blue-spotted
Salamander
Mabees Salamander
Green Salamander
Longtail
Salamander
The Mole
Salamanders
Spotted Salamander
Marbled Salamander
Mole Salamander
Tiger Salamander
Long-toed
Salamander
California Giant Salamander
Pacific Giant
Salamander