SALAMANDERS AND NEWTS. 



71 



The Spotted Salamander is the type of a sub-family {Salaman- 

 drince) distinguished from the Amhlystomatince, by the palatal teeth 

 forming a double series diverging behind. In the true Salamanders 

 these teeth form a pair of Ss, while in the Newts they are A-shaped, 

 as a rule. Of Salamandra there are three species, the Spotted 

 {S. maculosa, ^%\), the Alpine (/S'. atra,^^2), and the Caucasian Sala- 

 mander {S. caucaska). They all have five hind-toes and a rounded 

 tail. The young are aquatic, but the adults live under moss or stones. 



Fig. 71. 





The Common Smooth Newt (Molge vtclgaris). IMale and female. 



The spotted species exudes a poisonous fluid from the skin, which, 

 together with its peculiar colouring, has probably given rise to the 

 legend of its being fire-proof. The young are born alive. The Newts 

 {Molf/e, 558-560); of which there are some eighteen species, have 

 the tail compressed, and frequently furnished, at least during the 

 breeding-season, with an upright fin. They frequent cool moist 

 situations, and during the breeding-season take to the water, where 

 the tadpoles are boru ; in winter, like Salamanders, they hibernate. 



