insects, small mice and frogs, other salamanders and salamander 

 eggs. In captivity it will learn to eat bits of beef, at night. The 

 young eat aquatic insect larvae, daphnia and other small aquatic 

 animals. 



This interesting salamander thrives in captivity. It eats living 

 food readily and voraciously . Even smaller members of its own 

 kind are included in its diet. 



The aquarium should contain moist earth, with a flat rock or 

 decaying board lying at the surface to supply a roof to the sala- 

 mander's burrow. However, I frequently keep a specimen in shal- 

 low, cold {6o°-jo° F.) water containing a few stones. Under the 

 latter conditions it is easier to view its activities. 



THE PLETHODONTIDS 



(Plethodontidae) 



The Plethodontids are small, slender salamanders which undergo 

 their gilled stage in the egg. They have movable eyelids and are 

 much more terrestrial than most salamanders. However, they must 

 live close enough to water to be covered by wet moss, earth, or 

 decayed wood. The tail is more rounded than compressed and lacks 

 a fin. The fore feet have four toes; the hind feet five. 



Four-Toed Salamander 

 ( Heinidactyliufft scutatum) 



Appearance. This, our smallest salamander, is distinguished read- 

 ily by having but four toes on each foot and having a conspicuous 

 constriction of the tail just back of the vent. This constriction 

 marks the region at which the salamander can shed its tail. The 

 head is broad and flat. The snout of the female is bluntly rounded; 

 that of the male is abruptly cut off. The male is about a third 

 smaller than the female, is more slender, and differs in color. 



The color of the female is reddish brown above, fading to gray 

 along the sides. The upper surface of the legs and tail is deep 

 orange marked with brown. There are small, light red patches 



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