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Biology of Salamanders and Newts

admin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 07:39:41 +0000

Asian salamanders (Andrias) and the North American hellbender (Cryptobranchus), fertilization is internal, but is accomplished without copulation. A gelatinous pyramidal structure, the spermatophore is deposited by the male in a suitable spot. The spermatophore is capped by a packet of spermatozoa that is retrieved by the receptive female with her cloacal lips. The spermatophore dissolves in the body but the sperm are stored for later use. As the eggs are laid, they are fertilized by individual sperm. In most cases the eggs are laid in water (many plenthodontid species being exceptions to this), often attached individually to leaves of aquatic vegetation where they soon develop a protective jelly-like capsule. Some species “lay” free-swimming larvae that have developed within the female’s body; others produce small versions of the adults that may be born directly on the land. Many woodland salamander species do not lay their eggs in water, but deposit them in some suitable sheltered and damp cavity. The young that hatch from these terrestrial eggs bypass the larval stage and hatch as miniature replicas of the adults.

The larvae of water-breeding species are entirely carnivorous and start feeding upon tiny aquatic animals within hours of hatching. At first the larvae are similar to the tadpoles of frogs but possess more conspicuous feathery external gills on either side of the head. They do not develop the large head of the anuran larva, however, and the front limbs develop before the hind ones (hind before front in frogs). As examples, let us take a more detailed look at the life histories of two species, the great crested newt, Triturus cristatus, and the fire salamander, Salamandra salamandra.

Housing for Salamanders

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:13:37 +0000

By far the best type of tank available for general purposes is the all-glass tank. This consists of a number of sheets of glass of appropriate sizes cemented together along their edges with a remarkable versatile substance called silicone rubber sealing compound (silicone cement). This type of putty has various commercial uses, but brands suitable for aquarium construction are usually available at pet shops. All-glass aquaria are available in a wide array of sizes and designs at any pet shop, and it is usually cheaper to buy an all-glass tank than to try to make one yourself.

Great care should be taken in properly placing and aquarium for aquatic salamanders, remembering that a tank of water is extremely weighty. A sturdy base should be chosen and put in a quiet location away from a window and near an electrical outlet. Once in its permanent position, the tank should be thoroughly cleaned (without soaps) then filled with water and tested for leaks, which can be repaired with silicone cement.

Most of the smaller aquatic salamanders will appreciate a natural looking environment with plants, rocks and other decorative materials. Good tips on setting up a planted aquarium can be obtained from books about keeping tropical or cold-water fishes. Here it will suffice to say that a layer of washed aquarium gravel about 5 cm (2 in) deep at the front of the tank, rising to about 7.5 cm (3 in) at the rear, should be placed in the aquarium.

Housing For Salamanders

admin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:06:54 +0000

The keeping of any animal in captivity requires a responsive attitude. Unless you are certain that you will have the time, the devotion, and the ongoing enthusiasm for the hobby, then you should not start in the first place. Having decided to keep salamanders or newts in the home, the first step is to ensure that the correct type of housing is available. This should be done before any animals are acquired. The type of housing required will differ from species to species, depending on whether they are totally aquatic, semi aquatic, or terrestrial. A container in which living animals are kept is usually called an aquarium for aquatic creatures or a vivarium or terrarium for terrestrial creatures. For convenience, a container for semiaquatic animals is usually called an aqua-terrarium. Being amphibians, one may imagine that all newts and salamanders should be kept in an aquarium or aqua-terrarium, but this is not necessarily the case. Before deciding on a species to keep, make sure that you have a knowledge of its habits and native habitat so that conditions as natural as possible can be provided. Where it is impossible or extremely difficult to produce conditions that are totally natural, some acceptable compromise conditions can usually be found.

The Aquarium

We are here referring to the aquarium as a container of water in which we want to reproduce a totally aquatic environment with no land areas. Aquarium tanks may also be used for other types of housing. There are many kinds of tanks available on the market today, including molded clear plastic or plexiglass tanks that are usually small and ideal for rearing larvae and young newts. One disadvantage of plastic tanks, however, particularly if you want to use them as main display tanks, is that after continued use and cleaning a fine film of scratches will develop and eventually spoil the view into the vessel.

Another type of aquarium is the traditional iron- or steel-framed type into which panes of glass are fixed with putty. The disadvantage of these tanks is that, unless the frames are rust-proofed and painted at regular intervals with non-toxic paint, they will rust away. In addition, traditional putty tends to shrink and crack if the tank is stored without water, causing the tank to leak the next time it is filled.

S.Salamandra Larvae

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:40:23 +0000

The latter spot is a trademark of S. salamandra larvae and is not present in the larvae of related species. The larvae possess a pair of feathery gills just like those of Triturus species, but the salamander larva is more robust in build. On reaching a length of 5-6 cm (2-2 1/2 in) the larvae begin to develop the vivid coloration of the adults, at first slowly but more rapidly as time goes by. The gills begin to be absorbed, the flat swimming tail becomes rounded, and the amphibian metamorphoses to become ready for its terrestrial existence. It is impossible to give an exact period of time from birth to metamorphosis, although spring-born larvae will usually become terrestrial by autumn; those born later in the year may pass the winter as larvae and metamorphose in the spring of the following year.

On land the young salamanders will hunt, usually at dusk and in the darkness, for various small invertebrates that they will catch with their sticky, protrusible tongues. They may also be seen foraging on the forest floor after heavy rain during warm weather. Fire salamanders are rarely preyed upon by other creatures, their warning coloration indicating that they are distasteful, indeed poisonous, because of the toxic secretions of the skin glands.

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The Larvae

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:35:29 +0000

His mate can have access to the sperm packet. Lying quietly, the male allows her to maneuver her vent over the sperm packet and take it up in the lips of her cloaca. The mating process takes approximately half an hour, after which the female is released by the male and both go their separate ways.

The time from fertilization to the birth of the larvae is about ten months. Sometimes the sperm packet may be retained in the cloaca for several months, even though the winter, so that eggs may be fertilized at a more favorable time. The larvae develop full term in the eggs while still in the body of the parent, who will seek out a suitable body of water as soon as birth becomes imminent. Only cool streams and ponds in half shadow are selected. The female will search for a suitable shallow spot into which she can release up to 50 hatching eggs or newly hatched larvae. In certain cases, especially in the southern part of the range or where free water is scarce, the larvae may be retained right through metamorphosis and tiny replicas of the adults may be deposited.

At birth, the larvae are about 2.5 cm (1 in) in length and are colored somewhere between yellowish gray and brownish black. The body is usually speckled with little yellow spots, with a larger one at the base of each leg; the latter spot is a trademark of S. salamandra larvae and is not present in the larvae of related species.

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Salamanders Protective Barrier

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:34:52 +0000

Most species have glands in the skin that will release poisonous or irritant substances in times of danger. It is therefore advisable to wash your hands each time after handling salamanders, as these substances, if transferred to the eyes or mucous membranes, can cause severe pain, irritation, and inflammation.

As the winter approaches, in most parts of its range T. cristatus will prepare for its winter hibernation, a period that is important to prepare it for the forthcoming breeding season. The newts burrow, deeply into the earth, often using tree roots of the burrows of other animals, until they reach a depth that will remain frost-free throughout the winter. Before hibernating, it is important that the newts have built up their fat reserves by consuming large quantities of insects. (Species from temperate areas may be kept in captivity without hibernation by simply keeping them warm, but such specimens are less likely to breed in the spring and their life spans will be somewhat shortened.) In the spring, as soon as the rays of the sun begin to warm up the surface, the newts will wake up and make their way to the breeding ponds. Young T. cristatus do not normally breed until they are in their second season.

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More on Proper Heating

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:23:30 +0000

One of the most satisfactory ways of heating insects in the undergrowth for the remaining part of the summer and early autumn, usually confining their activities to the nighttime or dusk and dawn. During the day both adults and newly metamorphosed young will hide in some safe cavity, perhaps under or within rotten fallen timber, under rocks, or in the leaf litter. The adults lose their breeding dress during the terrestrial stage, the male losing his crest and dorsal pattern, becoming plain black above but retaining the bright orange and black belly.

Many species of newts and salamanders possess bright colors that act as a warning to predators that they are poisonous or distasteful.

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Heating

admin — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 06:11:16 +0000

Very few salamanders other than those from tropical and subtropical areas will require supplementary heating other than that provided by the normal room temperatures of the average household. As tropical species also require a high humidity, it is best to install apparatus that will provide both warmth and moist air.

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The Terrarium Lid

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:41:27 +0000

This not only prevents the inmates from escaping (some salamanders are extremely adept at crawling up a sheer glass surface because the slimy body secretions can produce suction), it forms a housing for the lighting system (and heating system if it is required) and provides ventilation. A terrarium lid may be made from plastic (common in purchased terraria) but also could be fashioned from plywood given a couple of coats of non-toxic gloss paint to render it damp-proof. A couple of large holes are made in the top of the lid and covered with a fine gauge mesh. The lid should be at least 15 cm (6 in) deep to allow for the lighting apparatus.

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