KEY TO ADULT SALAMANDERS 



7. A groove from lip to nostril; both vomerine and parasphenoid teeth present. 



Plethodontidae. 



8. Costal grooves indistinct (may appear visible in preserved specimens); vomero- 

 palatine teeth in more or less longitudinal rows; a black bar in the eye; skin 

 tuberculate. Salamandridae. 

 Only the one species, the Louisiana newt. 



Trittinis viridesccns lotiisutnensis (WolterstorfT). 

 8. Costal grooves prominent, although occasionally indistinct; vomerine teeth trans- 

 verse; no bar through eye; skin smooth. Ambystomidae. 



Keys to the Genera of the Various Families 



The following families contain but one genus and one form in Oklahoma. They are 

 recognized by means of the family key alone: for the family proteidae, there is only the 

 genus Neciiirus: for amphiumidae, there is only the genus Amphiiinnr. sirenidae, only the 

 genus Siren; and salamandridae, only the genus Trititnis. 



The family ambystomidae contains only the genus Anihystonni, a key to which is 

 found in the keys for the species of the various genera. 



The family plethodontidae, therefore, is the only one which requires a key for its 

 genera. 



Key to Genera of plethodontidae 



L Toes four front and five back 2 



L Toes four-four. Genus Manndtis. 



Only one representative, the dwarf salamander. A/. qtiadridlgita/usA 



Not definitely found in Oklahoma but likely along the eastern border in LeFlore 



and McCurtain counties. 

 2. Tongue free at sides and behind only; external gills present in aquatic forms and 



absent in terrestrial genera 3 



2. T<mgue with a central pedicle, free all around. Genus Ewycea. 



3. Without external gills in adults 5 



3. With external gills in adults 4 



4. Costal grooves never over 19 and usually 18; intercostal folds 6 or 7, usually 6; 

 body chunkier and head more blunt: cleared and stained specimens show 20 rib- 

 bearing vertebrae between the axis and sacrum inclusive; pterygoid teeth usually 

 in patches. Genus Typhlotriton. 



4. Costal grooves 18 or more, usually 19-22; intercostal folds 7 or more, usually 8 or 

 over; more slender and head less blunt; cleared and stained specimens show 

 21 or more rib-bearing vertebrae from axis to sacrum inclusive; pterygoid teeth in 

 single row, or at most in two rows (neotenic species). Etirycea. 



5. Unpigmented and with reduced eyes; legs long and slender. Typhlotriton. 



5. Normally pigmented and with normal eyes; legs shorter; occasionally entering 

 caves but never becoming light colored or unpigmented 6 



6. Without gills but usually found in water or at the edge of water; body short and 

 stout; tail trigonal in section; a light bar from posterior corner of eye to angle of 

 jaw. Desmognathus. 

 Only in Ouachita Mountains, or just south of them. The only species is Brimley's 

 Dusky Salamander. D. jtisctis brimleyorum (Stejneger). 



6. Without gills, often found far from water in damp areas; tail round in section; 

 no light bar from corner of eye to angle of jaw. Plethodon. 



1 According to Mittleman (Herpetologica, 3:209-224, 1947) the form likely to occur 

 here would be A/, q. iividns. 



31 



