Vertebrate Zoology

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salamander

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

salamander an amphibian of the order Urodela, or Caudata. Salamanders have tails and small, weak limbs; superficially they resemble the unrelated lizards (which are reptiles), but they are easily distinguished by their lack of scales and claws, and by their moist, usually smooth skins. Salamanders are found in damp regions of the northern temperate zone and are most abundant in North America. Most are under 6 in. (15 cm) long, but the giant salamander of Japan ( Megalobatrachus japonicus ) may reach a length of over 5 ft (1.5 m). Most salamanders are terrestrial as adults, living near water or in wet vegetation, but some are aquatic and a few are arboreal, burrowing, or cave-dwelling. Most are nocturnal, and all avoid direct light. Salamanders are able to regenerate a lost limb or tail. They feed on small animals, such as insects, worms, and snails.

Most salamanders breed in water and are gregarious at breeding time, when there is usually a courtship display. In most species fertilization is internal. The male deposits sperm packets, which the female picks up with the cloaca; the sperm is then stored until fertilization takes place. The eggs, surrounded by gelatinous material, are usually laid in ponds or brooks, where they develop into aquatic larvae that can breathe by means of gills. A few salamanders breed on land, laying their eggs under rotting vegetation; the young pass through the gilled stage in the egg, emerging as miniature adults. Such strictly terrestrial forms are the red-backed salamander ( Plethodon cinereus ) and slimy salamander ( P. glutinosus ) of E United States and the slender salamander ( Batrachoseps attenuatus ) of the Pacific coast.

Most salamanders, including most that remain in an aquatic environment, go through a typical amphibian metamorphosis into air-breathing adults. Generally the adults have lungs, but in the large family of lungless salamanders (Plethodontidae) breathing occurs entirely through the skin and the lining of the throat. In a few salamanders growth occurs without metamorphosis, and the gilled, juvenile form is able to reproduce. This phenomenon (called neoteny ) is found in the sirens (family Sirenidae) of S United States and N Mexico, in the mud puppies (family Protidae), and in the Mexican axolotl . It may also occur in the Western varieties of the North American tiger salamander ( Ambystoma tigrinum ) under certain environmental conditions. The newts are a large, widely distributed family of salamanders; North American species include the red-spotted newt, which goes through a terrestrial stage known as the red eft.

The North American blind salamanders (several genera in the family Plethodontidae) live in underground streams, caves, and wells in S United States. As adults they have whitish, translucent skin, which covers their eyes. The olm is a European blind salamander related to the mud puppy . The giant salamander ( Dicamptodon ensatus ) of the NW United States grows to 12 in. (30 cm) in length. The hellbender ( Cryptobranchus alleganiensis ) of E United States and the so-called Congo eel ( Amphiuma means ) are large aquatic species. The former, of the same family as the Japanese giant salamander, grows to 20 in. (50 cm); the latter, slender and eellike in appearance, with tiny legs, may reach 30 in. (75 cm).

Classification

There are over 200 salamander species, classified in approximately 60 genera and 8 families of the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Amphibia, order Urodela.

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Urodela

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | | Copyright

Urodela (Caudata; newts, salamanders; subphylum Vertebrata, class Amphibia) A modern order of tailed amphibians, of which there is a late Jurassic representative in the fossil record. This order, and the other two living amphibian orders (collectively grouped into the subclass Lissamphibia), seem on the basis of their vertebral characteristics to be descended from the Palaeozoic Lepospondyli, but the teeth and other characteristics of the Lissamphibia are unlike those of any Palaeozoic amphibians. Most are four-legged and lizard-shaped, but some are elongate and eel-like, with the limbs degenerate. The tail is never lost at metamorphosis. Fertilization is internal, spermatophores being transferred during an elaborate courtship ritual. Sexual dimorphism is common, with breeding colours and median-fin enlargement in the males of some species. The usual length is 7–30 cm, but the giant salamanders (Cryptobranchidae) may reach 150 cm. Distribution is largely in the northern temperate zone, but some genera span the Equator into S. America. There are about 450 species in eight families: Ambystomatidae; Amphiumidae; Cryptobranchidae; Hynobiidae; Plethodontidae; Proteidae; Salamandridae; and Sirenidae.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Urodela." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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salamander

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Copyright

salamander a mythical lizard-like creature said to live in fire or to be able to stand its effects. The word is recorded from Middle English; from the early 17th century, salamander has been used for a newt-like amphibian that typically has bright markings, once thought able to endure fire. The salamander may be taken as the type of something able to endure great heat unscathed; it is also found in heraldry as an emblem, for example that of Francis I of France.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "salamander." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "salamander." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-salamander.html

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salamander

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

sal·a·man·der / ˈsaləˌmandər/ • n. 1. a newtlike amphibian (Salamandridae and other families, order Urodela) that typically has bright markings, and that once was thought to be able to endure fire. 2. a mythical lizardlike creature able to withstand fire. DERIVATIVES: sal·a·man·drine / ˌsaləˈmandrin/ adj.

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salamander

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

salamander Any of 320 species of amphibians found worldwide, except in Australia and polar regions. It has an elongated body, a long tail and short legs. Most species lay eggs, but some give birth to live young. The largest European species, the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra), may attain a length of 28cm (11in). Order Urodela.

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salamander

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

salamander lizard-like animal supposed to live in fire XIV; tailed amphibian; poker used red-hot XVII. — (O)F. salamandre — L. salamandra — Gr. salamándrā.

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T. F. HOAD. "salamander." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "salamander." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-salamander.html

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salamander

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition | 2005 | | Copyright

salamander Traditional round metal cooking implement, heated in the fire until red hot and held over the surface of pastry and other foods to brown it.

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DAVID A. BENDER. "salamander." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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salamanders

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | | Copyright

salamanders See SALAMANDRIDAE; PLETHODONTIDAE.

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salamander

salamander •adder, bladder, khaddar, ladder, madder •Esmeralda, Valda •scaffolder • lambda •Amanda, Aranda, Baganda, Banda, brander, candour (US candor), coriander, dander, expander, gander, germander, goosander, jacaranda, Leander, Luanda, Lysander, meander, memoranda, Menander, Miranda, oleander, panda, pander, philander, propaganda, Rwanda, sander, Skanda, stander, Uganda, understander, Vanda, veranda, withstander, zander •backhander • Laplander • stepladder •inlander • outlander • Netherlander •overlander • gerrymander •pomander •calamander, salamander •bystander •ardour (US ardor), armada, Bader, cadre, carder, cicada, Dalriada, enchilada, Garda, gelada, Granada, Haggadah, Hamada, intifada, lambada, larder, Masada, Nevada, panada, piña colada, pousada, promenader, retarder, Scheherazade, Theravada, Torquemada, tostada •Alexander, commander, demander, Lahnda, slander •Pravda • autostrada

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"salamander." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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