

LIZARDS, TORTOISES AND BATRACHIANS 39 T 



Order 1 PROTEIDA 



Large eellike forms, which retain their external gills throughout 

 life. Lungs are developed, but are not normally functional. Only 

 one family. 



Family proteidae 



Represented here by one species. 



1 Necturus maculatus Rafinesqne 



Mud pupjiy 



De Kay. Menobranclius lateralis, The banded proteus, p. 87, pi. 18, fig. 45< 



Much the largest of our batrachians, except the hellbender, reach- 

 ing a length of 2 feet. Eellike, with feeble legs ; light chocolate 

 brown, with darker brown spots. Three pairs of bushy, bright red, 

 external gills. 



Common in most of the larger streams and lakes of the northern 

 and western part of the state. Found in the Erie canal. De Kay 

 ('42) stated that it would soon be found in the Hudson river, a pre- 

 diction since verified, as numerous specimens are now taken around 

 Albany. Information as to how far up and down the river it has 

 reached is greatly to be desired. 



Order 2 URODELA 

 Salamanders 



Include all the rest of the long-tailed batrachians. Xo gills in 

 the adult stage ; limbs equally developed. The eggs are usually 

 laid in the water either singly on leaves or in masses like those of 

 the frog. The larvae or tadpoles differ from those of the frogs and 

 toads in that the gills are not covered over, but remain externa]; 

 and do not disappear till a late stage. A pair of processes known 

 as balancers occurs in front of the gills. Three stages in their 

 development are shown in fig. 8-10 of pi. 1. 



The following families are represented within our limits. 



1 Cryptobranchidae 



2 Amblystomidae 



3 Plethodontidae 





4 Desmognathidae 



5 Pleurodelidae 



