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Salamanders range in size from the minute salamanders, with a total length of 27 mm (1 + 1 ⁄ 8 in), including the tail, to the Chinese giant salamander which reaches 1.8 m (6 ft) and weighs up to 65 kg (145 lb).
Salamandridae is a family of salamanders consisting of true salamanders and newts. Salamandrids are distinguished from other salamanders by the lack of rib or costal grooves along the sides of their bodies and by their rough skin. Their skin is very granular because of the number of poison glands. They also lack nasolabial grooves.
Plethodontidae, or lungless salamanders, are a family of salamanders. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] With over 500 species, lungless salamanders are by far the largest family of salamanders in terms of their diversity. Most species are native to the Western Hemisphere , from British Columbia to Brazil.
Tiger salamanders are a sexually dimorphic species, as the males are larger in body size, as well as have longer and higher tails than females. [9] Some individuals, typically when their aquatic environment is well suited, will retain their larval characteristics and forego metamorphosis.
Newts share many of the characteristics of their salamander kin, Caudata, including semipermeable glandular skin, four equal-sized limbs, and a distinct tail. The newt's skin, however, is not as smooth as that of other salamanders. [ 9 ]
Members of several salamander families have become paedomorphic and either fail to complete their metamorphosis or retain some larval characteristics as adults. [56] Most salamanders are under 15 cm (5.9 in) long.
The mole salamanders (genus Ambystoma) are a group of advanced salamanders endemic to North America. The group has become famous due to the study of the axolotl (A. mexicanum) in research on paedomorphosis, and the tiger salamander (A. tigrinum, A. mavortium) which is often sold as a pet, and is the official amphibian of four US states.
This aids the salamander when feeding. When the salamander performs the "suck and gape" feeding style, the prey is pulled into the mouth, and the teeth function to hold the prey inside the mouth and prevent the prey from escaping. [14] At both sides of their mouths their lips interlock, which allows them to use suction feeding. [7]