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The Biology of Agnes Scott College

Mark Mandica Executive Director The Foundation [email protected] 678 379 TOAD (8623) Cryptobranchidae: Cryptobranchus alleganiensis 3.1: Biology

Ambystomatidae: Ambystoma tigrinum posses tails in larval and adult forms most have limbs of equal size

Salamandridae: Taricha rivularis anatomy

Plethodontidae: Plethodon cinereus

eye socket

hindlimb rib hyoid

tail forelimb

vertebrae sacral vertebrae (1)

Cryptobranchidae: Andrias japonicus skeletal anatomy m = maxilla n = nasal pm = pre-max sph = sphenethmoid f-p = frontoparietal pro = prootic sq = squamosal eo = exoccipital q = quadrate qj = quadrato-jugal pt = pterygoid pal = palatine ps = parasphenoid sta = stapes skeletal anatomy : Necturus maculosus skeletal anatomy : Siren lacertina skeletal anatomy : Ambystoma tigrinum skeletal anatomy hyoid apparatus An arrangement of bones and cartilage in the floor of the mouth and throat.

Cryptobranchidae: Andrias japonicus skeletal anatomy ‘Hellbender’ exhibiting suction feeding by depressing the hyoid apparatus

Cryptobranchidae: Cryptobranchus alleganiensis Functional morphology Reproduction Salamander Life Cycle

Sexual dimorphism in the cloaca of adult salamanders SALAMANDER REPRODUCTION FEMALES PICK UP THE SPERMATOPHORE AND FERTILIZE THE EGGS

SPERMATOPHORES

THIS ONE HAS BEEN PICKED UP BY A FEMALE

SALAMANDER REPRODUCTION

EGGS ARE LAID IN WATER OR ON LAND DEPENDING ON THE

Ambystomatidae: Ambystoma maculatum : Eurycea cirrigera Ambystomatidae: Ambystoma maculatum

SALAMANDER LARVAE PAEDOMORPHOSIS RETENTION OF JUVENILE CHARACTERISTICS IN THE ADULT FORM MANY SALAMANDER SPECIES ARE PAEDOMORPHIC AND DO NOT METAMORPHOSE FULLY (OBLIGATE). OTHER SPECIES, LIKE TIGER SALAMANDERS, CAN BE PAEDOMORPHIC IF THE SITUATION IS SUITABLE AND THEN METAMORPHOSE LATER IF NECESSARY (FACULTATIVE)

THIS IS AN ADULT MUDPUPPY (NECTURUS MACULATUS) EVEN THOUGH IT HAS JUVENILE SALAMANDER CHARACTERS LIKE AQUATIC (FLAT) TAIL AND LARGE EXTERNAL . THIS CEASED DEVELOPING PHYSIOLOGICALLY (SOMATICALLY) BUT CONTINUED TO DEVELOP SEXUALLY. THIS PROCESS IS CALLED . IN TYPICAL DEVELOPMENT, AGING AND MATURITY ARE SYNCHRONIZED. IN PAEDOMORPHOSIS, THE TWO PROCESSES BECOME SEPARATED. THIS PHENOMENON IS CALLED HETEROCHRONY.

Paedomorphosis The result from either neoteny or progenesis PAEDOMORPHOSIS

RETENTION OF JUVENILE CHARACTERISTICS IN THE ADULT FORM

THIS IS AN ADULT MOLE SALAMANDER () EVEN THOUGH IT HAS JUVENILE SALAMANDER CHARACTERS LIKE AQUATIC (FLAT) TAIL AND LARGE EXTERNAL GILLS. THIS ANIMAL REACHED SEXUAL MATURITY AT A MUCH EARLIER AGE THAN MOST MOLE SALAMANDERS, WHILE STILL IN LARVAL FORM. THIS PROCESS IS CALLED PROGENESIS. PAEDOMORPHOSIS

RETENTION OF JUVENILE CHARACTERISTICS IN THE ADULT FORM

THIS IS AN ADULT (LEUCISTIC) (AMBYSTOMA MEXICANUM) EVEN THOUGH IT HAS JUVENILE SALAMANDER CHARACTERS LIKE AQUATIC (FLAT) TAIL AND LARGE EXTERNAL GILLS. Regeneration Limb Regeneration Has been well documented in and Firebelly

Ambystomatidae: Ambystoma mexicanum : Cynops sp. Stages of Limb Regeneration

Salamandridae: Cynops sp.