I 



TAXONOMY, LIFE-HISTORY, AND GENERAL 



TAXONOMY 



1 . Characteristics of Class, Order and Sub-Order. 



The Salamander, by virtue of its naked glandular skin devoid of 

 scales, its aquatic larva, its three-chambered heart (two auricles and 

 one ventricle), two occipital condyles and the absence of any amnion 

 or allantois around the developing embryo, is placed in the Class 

 Amphibia among the vertebrates. 



The retention of the tail by the adult and the possession of limbs 

 of approximately equal size confine it to the Order Urodela or 

 Caudata^ while the complete metamorphosis, and the backward 

 extension of the pre-vomerine teeth to well behind the internal 

 nares, limit it to the Sub-order Salamandroidea.^ 



2. The Family Salamandridae. 



This Sub-order comprises three Families^ the Salamandridae^ the 

 Amphiumidae^ and the Plethodontidae (mostly American Urodeles). 

 The Salamander belongs to the first of these families, which is 

 characterized mainly by the shape of the pre-vomerine teeth, by the 

 opisthocoelous vertebrae, and by one or two other skeletal features 

 of minor importance. The Family Salamandridae is again roughly 

 divided into 'Salamanders' and 'Newts', the former being completely 

 terrestrial in the adult stage while the latter show strongly marked 

 aquatic tendencies throughout life. All are completely caduci- 

 branchiate in the adult phase. The family comprises some eight 

 genera, namely, Salamandra, Chioglossa^ Triturus (Triton), 'Tyloto- 

 triton^ Pachytriton^ Pleurodeles^ Euproctus^ and Salamandrina, 



3. The Genus Salamandra. 



The Genus Salamandra is distinguished by the 'S' shape of the 

 backward prolongations of the pre-vomerine teeth, together with 

 the subcircular tongue free at the edges, and the prominent 'para- 

 toid' cutaneous glands behind the eyes. The hands are four-fingered 

 and the feet are five-toed, while the tail is rounded in section, and 

 there is no fronto-squamosal arch. The genus contains four species 

 ^ The classification of Noble (193 1) is followed here, 



4038 B 



