Salamander

About: Salamander is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2463 publications have been published within this topic receiving 46461 citations. The topic is also known as: salamanders & Salamander.

A field guide to the reptiles and amphibians of Britain and Europe

Abstract: A brand-new edition of this popular field guide, Reptiles and Amphibians describes and illustrates every species found in Britain and Europe. This book contains descriptions of every species of salamander, newt, frog, tree frog, toad, tortoise, turtle, terrapin, gecko, agama, lizard, chameleon, slow worm, skink, amphisbaenian and snake found in mainland Europe. Every species and distinct subspecies is described in detail, with notes on its range, size, colour and markings, diagnostic characters, habitat, behaviour and, in the case of venomous snakes, the type and virulence of its poison. The final part of the book deals with the identification of the eggs and tadpoles of frogs, toads, newts and salamanders. There are also introductions to each group of animals, with helpful keys to aid identification where necessary, an introduction to the biology of reptiles and amphibians and how best to study this fascinating part of our fauna. The book is also beautifully illustrated with 49 colour plates and distribution maps for each species.

Salamander populations and biomass in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire

Abstract: There were about 2950 salamanders per ha (1770 g/ha wet wt) in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire. The terrestrial species, Plethodon cinereus, accounted for about 93.5% of the total biomass while the streamside species, Desmognathus fuscus, Eurycea bislineata and Gyrinophilus porphyriticus, accounted for the remaining 6.5%. Notophthalmus viridescens was present, but was rare and insignificant in the biomass calculations. The population size of salamanders at Hubbard Brook appears to be stable. The biomass of salamanders is about twice that of birds during the bird's peak (breeding) season and is about equal to the biomass of small mammals.

Recent introduction of a chytrid fungus endangers Western Palearctic salamanders

Abstract: Emerging infectious diseases are reducing biodiversity on a global scale. Recently, the emergence of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans resulted in rapid declines in populations of European fire salamanders. Here, we screened more than 5000 amphibians from across four continents and combined experimental assessment of pathogenicity with phylogenetic methods to estimate the threat that this infection poses to amphibian diversity. Results show that B. salamandrivorans is restricted to, but highly pathogenic for, salamanders and newts (Urodela). The pathogen likely originated and remained in coexistence with a clade of salamander hosts for millions of years in Asia. As a result of globalization and lack of biosecurity, it has recently been introduced into naive European amphibian populations, where it is currently causing biodiversity loss.

An Experimental Investigation of Landscape Resistance of Forest versus Old-Field Habitats to Emigrating Juvenile Amphibians

Abstract: We used an experimental approach to investigate the effects of landscape composition on the initial dispersal success of juvenile amphibians. Larval amphibians—spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), small-mouthed salamander (A. texanum), and American toad ( Bufo americanus )—were added to artificial pools in four dispersal arrays on forest edges. Each array consisted of a pool surrounded by a circular drift fence with pitfall traps and two 2.5 × 50 m enclosures (runs) extending into forest and old-field habitat. Juveniles captured at the circular fences were individually marked and released into either field or forest runs. We determined initial distance, initial rate, total distance, and net distance moved by juveniles in the field versus forest from recaptures in the runs. We also conducted 24-hour dehydration trials to compare the rates of evaporative water loss by spotted and small-mouthed salamanders in field and forest. Initial orientation of spotted salamanders and toads was significantly biased toward forest. Orientation of small-mouthed salamanders did not differ significantly from random expectations. The avoidance of open-canopy habitat by juvenile American toads in particular indicates that predictions of dispersal behavior based on adult habitat use may be misleading. Spotted salamanders moved almost four times farther and toads more than three times farther into the forest than into the field, and recapture rates of both species were much lower in the field. We attribute the lower recapture rates and shorter distances moved in the field to higher mortality due to desiccation or an abundance of predators. Juvenile spotted and small-mouthed salamanders experienced greater evaporative water loss in the field. Our data on movement behavior and dehydration rates suggest that old-field habitats offer greater landscape resistance to dispersing juveniles of some species. Thus, forest fragmentation is likely to reduce dispersal rates between local populations of these three species, with potentially negative consequences for population persistence in altered landscapes.

The Anatomy of the Salamander

Abstract: AbstractSALAMANDER is a name not unknown to folklore, mythology or even slang. Henceforward it must be more than a nominal acquaintance of every zoologist, without distinction of creed or class, for Dr. Francis has given us a book with a much wider appeal than its title would suggest. In his preface the author says that: “Its intention is to provide a general account of the anatomy and morphology of a tailed Amphibian?the Salamander, which shall, within limits, be comparable with the work of Ecker and Gaupp on its ecaudate relative?the Frog”. There can be no doubt of his successful achievement of this object, and the two works are not only comparable but also complementary; the easiest way of discovering the latest morphological, nomenclature and the most recent views on the homologies of anuran structures is to compare the relevant sections in the two books.The Anatomy of the Salamander By Dr. Eric T. B. Francis. With an Historical Introduction by Prof. F. J. Cole. Pp. xxxi + 381 + 26 plates. (Oxford: Clarendon Press; London: Oxford University Press, 1934.) 25s. net.