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Notes on the Salamanders 



ANNA K. BEWLEY 



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The salamanders, frogs and toads rep- 

 resent the class of vertebrate animals 

 holding a position between the fishes 

 and the reptiles. Formerly we called 

 them amphibians, which implies that 

 they may be found on land and in water, 

 but now it is customary to refer to them 

 as batrachians. 



Twenty or more species of salaman- 

 ders are found in Pennsylvania, being 

 distinguished by their differing struc- 

 ture, color and mode of living. They 

 are much more numerous than the liz- 

 ards, since but five species of these rep- 

 tiles are known to occur in the State. 



The Common Newt, Diemyctilus vir- 

 idescens, is probably the most abundant, 

 and is often sold in the pet shops. For 

 such an inconspicuous creature it has the 

 astonishing number of eighteen common 

 names, among them Red Eft, Spotted 

 Triton, Water Newt and Mountain Liz- 

 ard. Briefly described, this salamander 

 is olive green or reddish above ; lemon 

 yellow below ; a row of scarlet dots sur- 

 rounded by black rings along each side ; 

 belly with small black spots, skin rough, 

 length of adult, three and one-half 

 inches. It seems to prefer an aquatic 

 existence, but should the pond become 

 dry it will seek temporary shelter under 

 stones or amongst decaying plant re- 

 mains. Here it awaits the filling of the 

 pond by autumn rains. During its so- 

 journ on land it may become red in 

 color. The eggs are deposited in the 

 water and attached by the gelatinous en- 

 velope to submerged plants. The larva 

 is provided with external gills, which are 

 retained until it reaches a length of two 

 inches. 



The Red Triton, Spelerpes ruber, 

 which may sometimes be confused with 

 the red phase of the common newt, is 

 not so abundant in the vicinity of the 



The Spotted Salamander ( Amblystoma punctatum) 



Photograph from life by Dr. R. W. Shufeldt 



writer's home. It may be looked for in 

 damp situations, under the bark of fal- 

 len trees, beneath stones, or in springs. 

 The most frequent species in this locality 

 is the Gray or Red-backed Salamander, 

 Plethodon einereus. It can be found at 



