Comparative Morphology of Ghordates 



Fig. 350. (A) Ambystoma rnaculatum. (B) Dicamptodon ensatus. (C) Batra- 

 choseps atlenuatus. (D) Eurycea lucifuga. (By permission from "Biology of the 

 Amphibia," by G. K. Noble, copyrighted 1931. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc.) 



There is no sharp distinction between salamanders and newts. 



In general, the smaller salamandroid urodeles are called "newts" or 

 "efts." With the exceptions mentioned above, the larger salamanders 

 ordinarily do not exceed a foot in length. Most salamanders and newts 

 are amphibious. Some are wholly terrestrial. 



Order Anura* (Salientia) 



Frogs and Toads. Body short and broad. Larval tail not retained 

 by adult. No gills or gill-clefts in adult. 



In the more or less elongated amphibians of the other two orders, 

 the number of vertebrae may go as high as 200 or even 250. In con- 

 trast, the Anura ordinarily have only nine, sometimes fewer, within 

 the region of the trunk. The first of these articulates with the skull. 

 The ninth is strongly joined to the pelvic girdle supporting the hind- 



* "Salientia" is the more logical name for this order of leaping amphibians. 

 Adult members of the third order, Apoda, have no tail and are therefore literally 

 "anuran" like frogs and toads. "Anura" as the name for the second order is 

 justified only by common usage. 



