CLASS AMPHIBIA. FROGS, TOADS, SALAMANDERS, AND OTHERS 



401 



B 



Figure 270. A, eastern newt, Diemictylus vindescens [Wi inches long). B, the "congo eel," 

 Amphiuma means (32 inches long) is a semilarval type of amphibian. (Courtesy of N.Y. 

 Zoological Society.) 



arose in all probability from stocks that did 

 undergo metamorphosis. Feeding the hor- 

 mone (thyroxin) reverses this specialization. 



Salamanders 



The newts belong to the salamander fam- 

 ily. The crimson-spotted newt, Diemicty- 

 lus viridescens, lives in the water as a larva; 

 but when it is about one inch long it loses 

 its gills and usually lives on land for about 

 one or two years. During its terrestrial life 

 it is a bright coral red in color and is known 

 as the red eft. It then returns to the water 

 and changes to the adult coloration of yel- 

 lowish green with black spots on the under 

 surface and a row of black-bordered crimson 

 spots on both sides. The cold slimy skin of 



the salamanders gave rise to the belief in 

 medieval times that the salamanders could 

 live in fire and not be injured by it. The 

 skin of the fire salamander of Europe se- 

 cretes a particularly poisonous substance. 

 This species is black with bright yellow spots 

 and therefore very conspicuous; its colors are 

 supposed to warn other animals that it is 

 dangerous. 



Toads 



The family Bufonidae includes over 100 

 species of toads, most of which belong to the 

 genus Bufo. About 15 species of this genus 

 have been reported from the United States. 

 The common toad of the northeastern 

 United States, Bu)0 terrestris (formerly 



