CLASSIFICATION OF AMPHIBIA 



233 



The crimson-spotted newt (Tri'ton virides'cens) is abundant in northern 

 and eastern states. Above, it is greenish brown, with two rows of crimson 

 spots. Below, it is orange, with black dots. It lives in deeper water than 

 is usual for salamanders and " swims freely, often in an upright position, 

 with hind legs hanging motionless, while the tail does all the work." 



Order IV. Anu'ra or Ecauda'ta. "The Anura are a very spe- 

 cialized group. Their development (see p. 225) indicates their 



Fig. 192. Axolotl, a creature living and breeding for generations in the 

 water. Amblystoma coming out of the water. Amblystoma breathes by 

 lungs, having lost its gills. (From Holder's " Elements of Zoology," 

 American Book Co., Publishers.) 



derivation from branchiate, tailed forms, but there is no paleon- 

 tologic evidence on this point." 1 



Aglos'sa. This group is characterized by the absence of a 

 tongue and by a common opening for the Eustachian tubes. It 

 is represented by the Pipa or "Surinam toad" of South America 

 (see Fig. 186) and by the Dactyl' 'ethra (Fig. 193) of Africa. 



1 Parker and Haswell, p. 291. 



