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BREED ING HAB ITS OF AMPHIBIA 



TRITURUS GRANULOSUS 



Above: adult male of T. granulosus from Mendocino County In 

 breeding condition. Kxtreme development of tfie tall fin is 

 characteristic of the breeding males In this species. Adult 

 pigmentation is more variable in this than in other species 

 of Californlan Trituriis, and may be either somewhat darker 

 or considerably lighter tlian in the specimen shown here. The 

 sides of breeding males generally exhibit a characteristic 

 steely-blue coloration (which is, liowever, sometimes approxi- 

 mated also in torosus males). Particularly during terrestrial 

 periods tlie back and sides of both sexes are often ouite dark, 

 almost black, and the belly a yellowisli or pinkish orange. In 

 general the granulosus of Santa Clara County are less darkly 

 pigmented than those farther north (see Bisliop, 1941). Middle 

 and below: lateral and ventral views of an adult T. rivularls 

 female. The band across the cloaca is very cliarac ter ist ic, 

 but not invariable, and may appear also in lesser degree of 

 development in other Californlan species of Triturus. 



(From Twltty I9I+2: Copela, #2) 



