k2 



BREEDING HABITS OF AMPHIBIA 



Breeding begins in early apring, generally a bit earlier' than for A. punctatum, in 

 February, (January in the Carolinas). The egg clusters (about 100) are attached to tvrigs 

 about a foot below the surface of the water, and are enclosed in a very loose fitting 

 Jelly. The egg is a bit darker than that of A. punctatum but the egg species can be readi- 

 ly distinguished by the consistency of the Jelly. Development is rapid, with hatching in 

 less than 28 days and metamorphosis in about 75 days. Laboratory larvae at 20°C. may not 

 metamorphose for k months, I56 days at 15°C., or 80 days at 25°C, Temperature tolerance 

 Is great, and development from stage #7 to stage #25 takes about 200 hours at 10°C. 



EUKYCEA BISLINEATA, the two-lined salamander. This form is found in central and eastern 

 States, having a maximum size of h- inches, and is characterized by having five toes on the 

 hind limb and a distinct labio-nasal groove. It is a slender salamander, round like a 

 lead pencil, and is found in streams, springs, and bogs. Sex differences are not clear 

 cut, except that the males upper front teeth are bicuspid. 



Breeding extends from April to June. After an elaborate courtship, the female picks 

 up the spermatophores and then lays the 20 to 50 eggs, one at a time, on the under aide of 

 atones or other objects. Incubation takes about a month, metamorphosis in about a year and 

 sexual maturity the following Spring. 



HEMIDACTyLIUM SCUTATUM. the four-toed salamander. This salamander has a wide distribution 

 in the eastern United States, measuring no more than h inches in length. Except for the 



mudpuppy this is the only common sala- 

 mander with four-toes. The color of 

 the back is orange-brown with a pseudo- 

 reptilian appearance of overlapping 

 plates. The belly surface is spotted 

 white. The male body la smaller but Its 

 tall la longer than that of the female. 



Mating occurs in late summer and 

 autumn, and breeding is in the spring 

 In open boga, shaded woodland pools, or 

 along quiet streams. The neata are mere 

 cavities in decayed wood, grass or moss. 

 About 50 eggs are layed and Incubation 

 takes from 6 to 8 weeks, depending upon 

 the environmental temperature. The 

 aquatic larval period is about 6 weeks, 

 and sexual maturity in 2-^ years. 



PLETHODON CIHEREUS , the red- backed sala- 

 mander. Rather widely dlatributed 

 throughout the United States, particu- 

 larly in the middle west, but not over- 

 ly abundant. There are five toes on 

 the hind limbs. It is never more than 

 k Inches in length, la wholly terres- 

 trial, and has two phases; one with 

 black and the other with red back. The 

 male snouta are awollen and they are 

 smaller than the females. 



Mating occurs in October and again 

 In the spring, with egg-laying in June 

 and July. The eggs are layed in cavi- 

 ties in well -decayed logs or stumps and 

 Courtship of salamanders, a and b: Two-Unert a single cluster may contain only about 

 salamander. c and d: Newt. e and f: Marbled 1I+ eggs. Development is very different 

 salamander (spermatopliore between pair in f ) . ^.j-gm ^j^^t of other Amphibia. (See 

 a, b, e, and f after NoDle and Bradj ; c and d Lynn.) 

 after Bishop. 



(Courtesy C. H. Pope 19l<^U : 

 Chicago Mua. Nat. Hist.) 



