Salamanders Fossil range: Jurassic - Recent
Salamandra salamandra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Subclass: Lissamphibia Order: Caudata/Urodela
Suborders
Cryptobranchoidea Salamandroidea Sirenoidea

Salamander (orig. The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Ma (million years ago to  Ma that is from the end of the Triassic to the beginning The Fire Salamander ( Salamandra salamandra) is probably the most well-known Salamander species in Europe. Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates Prehistoric amphibian Amphibians (class Amphibia such as Frogs Toads Salamanders Newts Gymnophiona, Sirens and The subclass Lissamphibia includes all recent Amphibians Extant amphibians fall into one of three orders - the Anura ( Frogs including This article is about the taxonomic rank for the sequence of species in a taxonomic list see Taxonomic order In scientific classification used Cryptobranchidae is a Suborder of fully aquatic Salamanders found in the eastern United States, China, and Japan. Salamandroidea is a Suborder of Salamanders referred to as advanced salamanders. Not to be confused with order Sirenia (manatees and dugongs The sirens are a family of Aquatic Salamanders from Persian: sām, "fire", and andarūn, "within") is the common name for a group of approximately 500 species of amphibians typically characterized by slender bodies, short legs, and long tails. In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. Prehistoric amphibian Amphibians (class Amphibia such as Frogs Toads Salamanders Newts Gymnophiona, Sirens and They have four front toes and their hind legs have five. Their moist skin usually makes them reliant on habitats in or near water or under some protection on moist ground, often in a swamp. A swamp is a Wetland featuring temporary or permanent inundation of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water Some salamander species are aquatic throughout life, some take to the water intermittently, and some are entirely terrestrial as adults. They lay eggs in water. Uniquely among vertebrates, they are capable of regenerating lost limbs, as well as other body parts, in a process known as ecdysis. Vertebrates are members of the Subphylum Vertebrata, Chordates with backbones or spinal columns The grouping sometimes includes In Biology, an Organism is said to regenerate a lost or damaged part if the part regrows so that the original function is restored Ecdysis is the Molting of the Cuticula in Arthropods and related groups ( Ecdysozoa)

Respiration differs among the different species of salamanders. In those that lack lungs, respiration is done through the gills as water passes over the gill slits. Some salamanders that are terrestrial have lungs that are used in respiration similar to that in mammals. However, some terrestrial species lack both lungs and gills and perform gas exchange through their skin, a process known as valarian respiration in which the capillary beds are spread throughout the epidermis, including inside the mouth.

Hunting is yet another unique aspect of salamanders. Muscles surrounding the hyoid bone contract to create pressure and actually "shoot" the hyoid bone out of the mouth along with the tongue. The hyoid bone ( lingual bone) (Latin os hyoideum) is a Bone in the Neck, and is the only bone in the human skeleton not articulated to any The tip of the tongue is composed of mucus which creates a sticky end to which the prey is captured. Muscles in the pelvic region are used in order to reel the tongue and the hyoid back to its original position.

Salamanders split off from the other amphibians during the Mid to Late Permian, and initially were similar to modern members of the Cryptobranchoidea. Cryptobranchidae is a Suborder of fully aquatic Salamanders found in the eastern United States, China, and Japan. Any resemblance to lizards is the result of convergence of the basic tetrapod body plan, as they are no more closely related to lizards than they are to mammals. Lizards are a large and widespread group of Reptiles of the order Squamata, with nearly 5000 species and ranging across all continents except Tetrapods ( Greek τετραποδη tetrapoda, Latin Quadruped, "four-footed" are Vertebrate Animals Their nearest relatives are the frogs and toads, within Batrachia.

Contents 1 Habitat 2 Development 3 Mythology 4 Popular culture 5 Notes 6 References 7 External references

Habitat

Species of salamanders are numerous and found in most moist or arid habitats in the northern hemisphere. The salamander is the largest amphibian in the world. They usually live in or near brooks,creeks,ponds and other moist locations. Many are relatively small, but there are definite exceptions. North America hosts the hellbender, the eastern tiger salamander, and the mudpuppy which can reach the length of a foot (30 cm) or more. The Hellbender ( Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is a large Salamander, native to North America, which inhabits large swiftly flowing streams with rocky bottoms Mudpuppies or waterdogs are aquatic Salamanders of the family Proteidae. In Japan and China the giant salamander is found, which reaches 6 feet (1. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The Hellbender and Asian giant Salamanders (family Cryptobranchidae) are aquatic Amphibians found in brooks and ponds in the 8 m) and weighs up to 30 kilograms. ^[1][2]. There are ten families belonging to the order Urodela, divided into three suborders:

Cryptobranchoidea (Giant salamanders)
Family	Common Names	Example Species	Example Photo
Cryptobranchidae	Giant salamanders	Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis)
Hynobiidae	Asiatic salamanders	Hida Salamander (Hynobius kimurae)
Salamandroidea (Advanced salamanders)
Ambystomatidae	Mole salamanders	Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)
Amphiumidae	Amphiumas or Congo eels	Two-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma means)
Dicamptodontidae	Pacific giant salamanders	Pacific Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus)
Plethodontidae	Lungless salamanders	Red Back Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
Proteidae	Mudpuppies and olms	Olm (Proteus anguinus)
Rhyacotritonidae	Torrent salamanders	Southern Torrent Salamander (Rhyacotriton variegatus)
Salamandridae	Newts and true salamanders	Alpine Newt (Triturus alpestris)
Sirenoidea (Sirens)
Sirenidae	Sirens	Greater Siren (Siren lacertina)

Development

The life history of salamanders is similar to other amphibians such as frogs. Cryptobranchidae is a Suborder of fully aquatic Salamanders found in the eastern United States, China, and Japan. The Hellbender and Asian giant Salamanders (family Cryptobranchidae) are aquatic Amphibians found in brooks and ponds in the The Hellbender ( Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is a large Salamander, native to North America, which inhabits large swiftly flowing streams with rocky bottoms The Asiatic Salamanders (Family Hynobiidae are rather primitive Salamanders spread all over Asia UserPolbot. -->The Hida Salamander ( Hynobius kimurae) is a species of Salamander in the Hynobiidae Salamandroidea is a Suborder of Salamanders referred to as advanced salamanders. Ambystomatidae is a family of salamanders belonging to the order Caudata in the class Amphibia. The Marbled Salamander ( Ambystoma opacum) is a species of Mole salamander found in the southeastern United States. Amphiuma is a Genus of aquatic Salamanders the only extant genus within the family Amphiumidae. The Two-toed Amphiuma ( Amphiuma means) is a snake-like Salamander found chiefly in the southeastern United States Pacific giant salamanders ( Dicamptodontidae) are a family of large Salamanders The family includes only a single Genus, Dicamptodon Pacific giant salamanders ( Dicamptodontidae) are a family of large Salamanders The family includes only a single Genus, Dicamptodon Lungless salamanders (family Plethodontidae) are distinguished from other families of Salamanders by the following traits No lungs The Red Back (or Backed Salamander ( Plethodon cinereus) It is a small hardy Woodland salamander. Mudpuppies or waterdogs are aquatic Salamanders of the family Proteidae. The olm, or proteus ( Proteus anguinus) is a blind Amphibian endemic to the subterranean waters of caves of the Dinaric The torrent salamanders or Cascade salamanders are a family (Rhyacotritonidae with only one Genus ( Rhyacotriton) of Salamanders The Southern Torrent Salamander ( Rhyacotriton variegatus) is a species of Salamander in the Rhyacotritonidae family Salamandridae is a family of Salamanders consisting of true salamanders and Newts There are currently 74 Species (with more expected spread all The Alpine Newt ( Triturus alpestris) belongs to the order Salamander (Urodela or Caudata in the class of Amphibians. Not to be confused with order Sirenia (manatees and dugongs The sirens are a family of Aquatic Salamanders Not to be confused with order Sirenia (manatees and dugongs The sirens are a family of Aquatic Salamanders The Greater Siren ( Siren lacertina) is an Eel -like Amphibian There is some debate over whether it is a true Salamander. This article is about the block cipher algorithm For the ultrafast laser pulse measurement technique see Frequency-resolved optical gating. The life cycle begins with an egg stage, usually laid the previous winter in a pond. A larval stage follows in which the organism is legless and fully aquatic. The salamander possesses gills at this point. Some species (such as Dunn's Salamander (Plethodon dunni)) of salamander exhibit no larval stage. UserPolbot. -->The Dunn's Salamander ( Plethodon dunni) is a species of Salamander in the Plethodontidae Neoteny has been observed in all salamander families, in which an individual may retain gills into sexual maturity. Neoteny (niːˈɒtɨniː also called juvenilization, is the retention by adults in a species of traits previously seen only in juveniles ( pedomorphosis/paedomorphosis This may be universally possible in all salamander species^[3]. More commonly, however, metamorphosis continues with the loss of gills, the growth of legs, and the capability of the animal to function terrestrially.

Mythology

Main article: Salamander (legendary creature)

Numerous legends have developed around the salamander over the centuries, many related to fire. This article is about the legendary creature for the amphibian see Salamander. This connection likely originates from the tendency of many salamanders to dwell inside rotting logs. When placed into a fire, the salamander would attempt to escape from the log, lending to the belief that salamanders were created from flames - a belief that gave the creature its name.

Associations of the salamander with fire appear in the Talmud and the Hadith, as well as in the writings of Conrad Lycosthenes, Benvenuto Cellini, Ray Bradbury, David Weber, Paracelsus and Leonardo da Vinci. The Talmud ( Hebrew: he תַּלְמוּד is a record of Rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history Hadith ( ar الحديث, pl aḥadīth; lit. "narrative" are oral Traditions relating to the words and deeds of the Islamic Conrad Lycosthenes (1518 — 1561 was a Humanist and an encyclopedist Benvenuto Cellini Ray Douglas Bradbury (born August 22 1920 is an American mainstream, Fantasy, horror, Science fiction and mystery David Mark Weber is an American Science fiction and Fantasy author. Paracelsus (11 November or 17 December 1493 in Einsiedeln Switzerland – 24 September 1541 in Salzburg, Austria) was an alchemist, Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci ( April 15 1452 – May 2 1519 was an Italian Polymath, having been a scientist Mathematician, Engineer

Popular culture

See Newts in Popular culture

See Salamander (legendary creature) in popular culture. A newt is an Amphibian of the Salamandridae family order Urodela or Caudata, found in North America, Europe, and References to the legendary salamander in popular culture - in fiction (especially Fantasy fiction role-playing and video games animation and so on - can be categorized in Salamanders as creatures with an affinity for fire belong in that article. This section covers the natural creatures.

Notes

References

• San Mauro, Diego; Miguel Vences, Marina Alcobendas, Rafael Zardoya and Axel Meyer (May 2005). "Initial diversification of living amphibians predated the breakup of Pangaea". American Naturalist 165: 590-599.  

External references

• Caudata.nl - The Dutch Newt & Salamander Site
• Caudata Culture
• Salamander Video
• Caudatamedia

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