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The skin of salamanders, in common with other amphibians, is thin, permeable to water, serves as a respiratory membrane, and is well-supplied with glands. It has highly cornified outer layers, renewed periodically through a skin shedding process controlled by hormones from the pituitary and thyroid glands. During moulting, the skin initially ...
Axolotls may be confused with the larval stage of the closely related tiger salamander (A. tigrinum), which are widespread in much of North America and occasionally become paedomorphic, or with mudpuppies (Necturus spp.), fully aquatic salamanders from a different family that are not closely related to the axolotl but bear a superficial ...
Unlike other salamanders, whose larvae are developed in water, the alpine salamander and its subspecies are a fully terrestrial species in life and gestation. [8] They give birth to live young. [9] Alpine salamanders produce toxic compounds from their skin. [8] These compounds may protect them from both predator and microbial threats. [10] [11 ...
The eggs of amphibians are typically laid in water and hatch into free-living larvae that complete their development in water and later transform into either aquatic or terrestrial adults. In many species of frog and in most lungless salamanders (Plethodontidae), direct development takes place, the larvae growing within the eggs and emerging as ...
As larvae, they are usually light brown or greenish-yellow. They have small dark spots and are born with external gills. In two to four months, the larvae lose their gills, and become juvenile salamanders that leave the water. Spotted salamanders have been known to live up to 32 years, [39] and normally return to the same vernal pool every year ...
Once fully metamorphosed, they leave the water and live a terrestrial life, when they are known as "efts." [12] [13] Only when the eft reaches adulthood will the North American species return to live in water, rarely venturing back onto the land. Conversely, most European species live their adult lives on land and only visit water to breed. [14]
Scientists have determined that a giant salamander previously housed at the London Zoo not only represents a newly discovered species — it's also likely the largest amphibian known to man.
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.