Salamanders - Biology Of Salamanders, Salamanders In North America, Salamanders And Humans
species eastern complex stages
Salamanders and newts are aquatic or amphibious animals in the order Caudata (sometimes known as the Urodela). There are about 350 species of salamanders, included in 54 genera. Salamanders have an ancient fossil lineage, extending back to the Upper Jurassic period, more than 140 million years ago.
Like other amphibians, salamanders have a complex life cycle, the stages of which are egg, larva, and adult. The morphology, physiology, and ecology of salamanders in their different stages are very different, and the transitional process involves a complex metamorphosis.
Salamanders are most abundant in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, with fewer species occurring elsewhere. The greatest number of species of salamanders occurs in the eastern United States, and to a lesser degree in eastern China.
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Species of salamanders display a wide range of body plans and life histories. The smallest salamander is an unnamed species of Thorius from Mexico, mature males of which have a total body length of only 1 in (2.5 cm). The world's largest living salamanders can be as long as 5.5 ft (1.7 m). These are the giant Asiatic salamanders, Andrias davidianus and A. japonicus, which can achieve body w…
Most of the 112 species of North America salamanders occur in the Appalachian region. In terms of species richness of salamanders, no other part of the earth compares with Appalachia. However, salamanders also occur over most of the rest of North America, in moist habitats ranging from boreal to subtropical. The mudpuppies and waterdogs are five species of aquatic, neotenous salamanders in the fam…
Other than a few species that are sometimes kept as unusual pets, salamanders have little direct economic value. However, salamanders are ecologically important in some natural communities, in part because they are productive animals that may be fed upon by a wide range of other animals. In addition, salamanders are interesting creatures, with great intrinsic value. Considering these direct and in…
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