KUY TO ADULT SALAMANDERS 



C(incciitratc(l to tnrm a ddiMi lateral liiu- on citliii- side; toiiml in tiorthcast and 

 southeast Oklahoma: ('opc's caxc .salaniandtr. 



liiirycca loiigK iim/ci luchiDoplctira (Cope). 

 3. Terrestrial; no gills 4 



3. Aquatic and ncotcnic havin.u external gills 5 



4. Vomerine teeth 6-10 on either side but usually 7; venter immaculate; tail longer 

 than body; found both north and south of Arkansas River; many-ribbed sala- 

 mander. Etirycea mttltiplicata (Cope). 



4. Vomerine teeth 9-11 at type locality in Sequoyah County, but farther north as 

 low as 4-5 on either side; venter usually with many small melanophores sprinkled 

 over the surface; only north of Arkansas River; the gray-bellied salamander. 



Etirycea griseogaster Moore and Hughes. 



5. Dorsal pattern consisting of many pigment spots scattered diffusely over surface 

 so as to give a peppered appearance but occasionally forming larger mottles; 

 cleared and stained specimens have 2 1 rib-bearing vertebrae from axis to sacrum 

 inclusive (neotenic specimens); the many-ribbed salamander. 



Etirycea tntiltiplicata (Cope). 



5. Dorsal pattern more approximating a net-like appearance but occasionally most 



spotting fused so as to obscure ground color; 22 rib-bearing vertebrae; Oklahoma 



neotenic salamander. Etirycea tyiierensis Moore and Hughes. 



Genus TYPHLOTRITON 



The two species here mentioned are quite different as adults. The lar\ae of T. spchiciis 

 resemble both the larvae and adults of T. nereiis and often occur with them in a single 

 habitat. - 

 1. Gills absent; color very light (cream approaching white); legs thin and weak; 

 known only from caves; the Ozark cave salamander. T. spclaeiis Steineger. 



1. Gills present, color dark, usually in the open in small streams 2 



2. Costal grooves 16 or 17, including one each in the axilla and groin; intercostal 

 folds 2-4; premaxillary teeth 17 or more, usually 20. T. spelaens (larvae). 



2. Costal grooves 18 or 19, including one each in axilla and groin; intercostal folds 

 6 or 7, rarely 5; premaxillary teeth 11-20 but usually 14 or 17; the Ozark neotenic 

 salamander. T. nereiis Bishop. 



'^ These species may be distinguished by clearing and staining. T spelaeus has 19 ribs 

 bearing vertebrae from axis to sacrum inclusive. T. neretis has 20. 



33 



