SYSTEMMATICS and DIVERSITY of EXTANT AMPHIBIANS II

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SYSTEMMATICS and DIVERSITY of EXTANT AMPHIBIANS II

• The Families of Amphibians

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Plethodontidae continued.

• Whatsit?

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Gyrinophilus porphyriticusSpring Salamander)

• 4.5 8.5 long
• Stout body, broadly truncate snout, dorsum is
  light brownish or salmon often with small dark
  spots or flecks.
• Light line, bordered below by dark line extends
  from eye to nostril.
• Venter is flesh-colored. strongly keeled tail.
• Inhabit springs and small, cold, rocky streams in
  mts and upper piedmont of the Carolinas.
• Diet insects, worms, other salamanders!

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Spring Salamander
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Spring Salamander
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Pseudotriton montanus(Mud Salamander)

• Robust salamander 3 7.5 long.
• Color can vary from coral pink to light yellowish
  orange to brownish.
• Short tail, brown eyes.
• Black dots are small, round, well separated.
• Found all over SC in muck beneath logs and
  stones, in burrows along banks of ponds, muddy
  streams, sluggish brooks, seepages.
• Aquatic larva.

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Mud Salamander
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Pseudotriton ruber(Red Salamander)

• Stout bodied salamander 3 7 long.
• Bright red or orange dorsum with many black
  spots. Row of black flecks may border mouth.
  Older animals are darker.
• Yellow eyes.
• Live in leaf litter in spring-fed brooks, nearby
  crevices, under logs, stones.
• Aquatic larva.

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Red Salamander
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Ambystomatidae

• Robust salamanders of moderate size.
• Adults are terrestrial larvae, aquatic.

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Ambystoma opacum(Marbled Salamander)

• Stocky body 3.5 5 long.
• Shiny black with white crossbands over back.
• Reside throughout SC under logs, leaves in moist
  sandy areas near ponds, streams.

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Marbled Salamander
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Marbled Salamander, larva
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Ambystoma maculatum(Spotted salamander)

• Stout bodied salamander, 6 10 long.
• Bright yellow round sports in two rows on dark
  background.
• Prefer hardwood forests, breed in semipermanent
  ponds with NO FISH!
• Fossorial, avoid bottomlands subject to flooding
• Found throughout SC

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Spotted Salamander
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Spotted Salamander
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Spotted Salamander Eggs
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Salamandridae

• Small to moderate in size.
• Terrestrial or aquatic as adults.
• Skin glands that produce highly toxic
  tetrodotoxins.
• Defense displays,
• elaborate courtship.

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Notophthalmus viridescens(Eastern Newt)

• Slender salamanders 2.5 5.5 long.
• Yellowish green with red spots encircled with
  black on dorsum.
• Aquatic, terrestrial with aquatic larvae.
• Adults live in ponds, lakes with aquatic plants.

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Red Spotted Newt
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Red Eft