Posts Tagged ‘Salamanders’
Wednesday, March 14th, 2012
Nobody can really say what it is that attracts certain people to certain groups of animals. Most people have an affection for animals of one sort or another, and nearly everybody has kept something in captivity at some stage of their lives. As children, many people kept snails or beetles in glass jars; they later may have had a hamster, a guinea pig, or a rabbit – the more adventurous perhaps kept a turtle or a snake. Later on in life the majority of pet keepers settle for a dog, a cat, or perhaps a cage bird. All these little experiences with animals may develop into a specific interest in a particular group, and certain groups of dedicated keepers may be regarded as “specialists” by themselves or perhaps “eccentrics” by others. We are referring to those groups of people who have a love for the more unusual and exotic types of “pets.” This book is for those who have a passion for the tailed amphibians, the salamanders and newts.
With ever-expanding urban areas and the influx of man into the cities to find work, people are gradually separating themselves from nature. This leads to a longing for some kind of substitute for nature, and many people opt to keep some kind of animal that can be kept in a miniature natural environment complete with plants and running water. Salamanders and newts are ideal choices for the home terrarium keeper – they are colorful, fairly easy to keep, and inexpensive to house. Moreover, there is still much to be learned about their various natural histories, and ideal opportunity for the amateur to become a scientist.
With a little artistic talent an attractive terrarium can be set up that will be the focal point of any living room or den. Providing the initial enthusiasm remains (and this should be carefully considered at the outset), and given a few basic requirements and a few minutes each day, it is easy to keep an exhibit of these animals that will be a sure topic of conversation whenever visitors arrive. The following text is designed to introduce the beginner to the fascinating world of salamanders and newts and gives guidelines on obtaining, housing, feeding, and caring for these fascinating creatures. It is hoped that this little book will lead the enthusiast into years of pleasure and entertainment.
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Tags: Artistic Talent, Beetles, Cage Bird, Captivity, Eccentrics, Focal Point, Glass Jars, Groups Of Animals, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Influx, Initial Enthusiasm, Natural Environment, Natural Histories, Outset, Running Water, Salamanders, Salamanders And Newts, Snails, Tailed Amphibians
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Saturday, March 10th, 2012
There are about 4000 known species of amphibians living on earth today, most of which are frogs and toads. The modern salamanders and newts (the caudates or Caudata) constitute just a small part of the class Amphibia, with about 350 species confined to the Americas and the temperate zones of Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
When one takes into consideration the total numbers of amphibian species and all of the other groups of animals and plants (totaling well over a million species, it is not surprising that a certain amount of confusion existed (and to some extent still does in many cases).
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Tags: Animals And Plants, Cancun Tours, Car Truck, Class Amphibia, Confusion, Earth, Europe Asia, Extent, Frogs, Groups Of Animals, Manitoba, Mcphillips, North Africa, Salamanders, Salamanders And Newts, Temperate Zones, Toads, Winnipeg
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Tuesday, March 6th, 2012
Including the leptospondyles – from which the lines leading to modern caecilians and caudates (tailed amphibians) developed – and the labyrinthodonts – from which the line leading to modern anurans (frogs and toads) developed. (Many herpetologists today believe that frogs, caudates and caecilians share a common ancestor rather than evolving from two separate groups of early amphibians.)
A large gap in geological time separates the leptospondyles and labyrinthodonts from the modern salamanders and frogs. The first frog-like creatures appeared in the early Triassic period, about 225 million years ago. While frogs have evolved to take up a great many habitats on land, the salamanders have retained a great many superficially primitive amphibian characteristics and have in the main remained more dependent on a watery environment than have the anurans.
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Tags: Anurans, Caecilians, Car Truck, Common Ancestor, Creatures, Frog, Frogs, Gap, Geological Time, Habitats, Herpetologists, Manitoba, Mcphillips, Million Years, Salamanders, Toads, Tour Of Chichen Itza, Triassic Period, Watery Environment, Winnipeg
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Tuesday, February 21st, 2012
Endeavoring to sort out the species into some kind of logical categorization. Fortunately, a system was developed that has solved the vast majority of the problems, this being known as the binomial system of scientific nomenclature, in which each distinct species (the most natural and basic group, consisting of individuals which are very similar and which freely interbreed) is awarded a double scientific name. The system was pioneered by the Swedish biologist Carl von Linne (1707-1778), generally known as Linnaeus. Basically, the system dictated that each species described to science should be given a generic and a specific name. As an example, the tiger salamander is known scientifically as Ambystoma tigrinum, the first name being that of the genus, the second that of the species. There are other species of the genus Ambystoma (Ambystoma macalatum, Ambystoma opacum, Ambystoma gracile, and so on), and all of these species show certain similarities of structure that warrant their being placed in the same genus.
Genera (plural of genus) are grouped into larger categories in ascending sequence: the family, the order, the class, and so on. To illustrate the situation more clearly, the following table shows the classification of a single species, the tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum:
Kingdom: Animalia, all animals. Phylum: Chordata, all chordates, Subphylum: Vertebrata, all vertebrates. Superclass: Tetrapoda, limbed vertebrates. Class: Amphibia, all amphibians, Order: Caudata, salamanders. Family: Ambystomidae, more salamanders. Genus: Ambystoma, typical mole salamanders. Species: Ambystoma tigrinum, tiger salamander. Subspecies: A.t. tigrinum, eastern tiger salamander. Subspecies: A.t. californiense, California tiger salamander. Subspecies: A.t. melanostictum, blotched tiger salamander.
In the table, it will be seen that the basic species type is Ambystoma tigrinum. This species has been selected as an example due to the fact that it has many subspecies, a few of which are listed (there are no subspecies in many species). In cases where geographical races are different but not different enough to warrant separate specific rank.
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Tags: Ambystoma Tigrinum, Binomial Nomenclature, Binomial System, Blotched Tiger Salamander, California Tiger Salamander, Carl Von Linne, Class Amphibia, Distinct Species, Eastern Tiger Salamander, Genus Ambystoma, Gracile, Linnaeus, Mole Salamanders, Order Caudata, Salamander, Salamanders, Species Type, Subphylum Vertebrata, Tiger Salamander, Vertebrates
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Monday, February 13th, 2012
The life history of the average frog is known by every school child, but for some unknown reason rather less seems to be known about the biology of the tailed amphibians. In this book we are not so concerned with the internal anatomy and physiology of the caudates as with their behavioral biology. In order to keep them alive in our terraria and encourage them to reproduce, it is most important that we know what makes them tick and what influences their breeding cycles.
Let us first endeavor to explain the differences between “salamanders” and “newts.” There is no hard and fast distinction between the two types, and species commonly called salamanders may even belong to the same family. The term salamander, however, may be safely applied to all of the caudates, while newt is normally applied to certain semi-aquatic species which live on land from late summer through winter but enter water in the spring to breed; male newts often have elaborate breeding dress and courtship behavior. In Europe the newts are represented most commonly by salamanders of the genus Triturus, in North America by members of the genera Notophthalmus and Taricha, and in Asia by Cynops, Paramesotriton, Tylototriton, and others.
The salamanders and newts of the order Caudata comprise some 350 species belonging to eight families. They are found in North and South America (with a preponderance of species in the north), in Europe and North Africa, and in Asia, predominantly in the north temperate zones. They are absent from tropical parts of Asia and Africa and do not occur at all in Australasia.
The salamanders have a soft, moist skin, rather long bodies, and well developed tails. As the body regions are distinct and the front and hind legs are usually of similar size and well developed, salamanders are often mistaken for lizards. However, on closer examination it will be seen that they lack the scaly skin, claws, and external ear openings of the lizards. All salamanders (sirens are partially herbivorous) and their larvae are carnivorous. The smaller species feed upon insects and other available invertebrates, but the largest ones can take any small vertebrate they can overpower, including fish, and frogs.
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Tags: Anatomy And Physiology, Anatomy Physiology, Aquatic Species, Behavioral Biology, Body Regions, Courtship Behavior, Distinction, Endeavor, External Ear Openings, Frog, Genus Triturus, Hind Legs, Internal Anatomy, Life History, Moist Skin, Newt, North Africa, Preponderance, Salamander, Salamanders, Salamanders And Newts, Scaly Skin, Tailed Amphibians, Temperate Zones, Terraria
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Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
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.
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Tags: Aquaria, Aquarium Construction, Aquarium Gravel, Chichen Itza, Cm 2, Cm 3, Cold Water, Decorative Materials, Electrical Outlet, Glass Tank, Pet Shop, Pet Shops, Puerto Morelos, Putty, Quiet Location, Salamanders, Setting Up A Planted Aquarium, Silicone Rubber, Sturdy Base, Winnipeg Auto Dealers
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Saturday, January 28th, 2012
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.
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Tags: Acceptable Compromise, Aqua, Aquarium Tanks, Aquatic Creatures, Aquatic Environment, Captivity, Devotion, Land Areas, Larvae, Native Habitat, Newts And Salamanders, Panes, Plastic Tanks, Plexiglass, Responsive Attitude, Salamanders, Scratches, Terrarium, Vivarium, Young Newts
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Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
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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Monday, January 16th, 2012
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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Tags: Burrow, Burrows, Captivity, Glands, Hibernating, Inflammation, Irritant Substances, Life Spans, Newts, Ponds, Protective Barrier, Rays Of The Sun, Salamanders, Second Season, Severe Pain, Specimens, Temperate Areas, Times Of Danger, Tree Roots, Winter Hibernation
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Thursday, January 12th, 2012
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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Tags: Adults, Bright Colors, Cavity, Crest, Crowns, Dentist, Dusk And Dawn, Early Autumn, Insects, Leaf Litter, Mazda, Nbsp, Newts And Salamanders, Nighttime, Predators, Puerto Morelos, Rocks, Salamanders, Undergrowth
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