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Cave Salamanders
A cave salamander is a type of salamander that primarily or exclusively inhabits caves, a group that includes several species. Some of these animals have developed special, even extreme, adaptations to their subterranean environments. Some species have only rudimentary (or even absent) eyes (''blind salamanders''). Others lack pigmentation, rendering them a pale yellowish or pinkish color (e.g., ''Eurycea rathbuni''). With the notable exception of ''Proteus anguinus'', all "cave salamanders" are members of the family Plethodontidae ("lungless salamanders"). History The first dedicated scientific study of a cave animal was focused upon a cave salamander, ''Proteus anguinus''. It was originally identified as a "dragon's larva" by Johann Weikhard von Valvasor in 1689. Later, the Austrian naturalist Joseph Nicolaus Lorenz described it scientifically in 1768. Another early scientific description of a cave salamander was undertaken by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1822 while he w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
P Anguinus-head1
P, or p, is the sixteenth letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''pee'' (pronounced ), plural ''pees''. History The Semitic Pê (mouth), as well as the Greek Π or π ( Pi), and the Etruscan and Latin letters that developed from the former alphabet, all symbolized , a voiceless bilabial plosive. Use in writing systems In English orthography and most other European languages, represents the sound . A common digraph in English is , which represents the sound , and can be used to transliterate ''phi'' in loanwords from Greek. In German, the digraph is common, representing a labial affricate . Most English words beginning with are of foreign origin, primarily French, Latin and Greek; these languages preserve Proto-Indo-European initial *p. Native English cognates of such words often start with , since English is a Germanic language and thus has ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Genera
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial species name for each species within the genus. :E.g. ''Panthera leo'' (lion) and ''Panthera onca'' (jaguar) are two species within the genus '' Panthera''. ''Panthera'' is a genus within the family Felidae. The composition of a genus is determined by taxonomists. The standards for genus classification are not strictly codified, so different authorities often produce different classifications for genera. There are some general practices used, however, including the idea that a newly defined genus should fulfill these three criteria to be descriptively useful: # monophyly – all descendants of an ancestral taxon are grouped together (i.e. phylogenetic analysis should clearly demons ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gyrinophilus Palleucus Necturoides
''Gyrinophilus palleucus necturoides'', the Big Mouth Cave salamander, a lungless salamander, is a subspecies of the Tennessee cave salamander (''Gyrinophilus palleucus''). The Big Mouth Cave salamander lives in Big Mouth Cave and other caves in the Elk River drainage basin in Grundy County and Coffee County, Tennessee. The salamander was first described by Lazell and Brandon in 1962. Conservation status While the TNC rates the Big Mouth Cave salamander as "critically imperiled", IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ... claims it is only "vulnerable". A study in 2007 by Brian T. Miller and Matthew L. Niemiller investigated the actual population size of the subspecies. They determined that the subspecies was actually abundant in Big Mouth Cave and other cav ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gyrinophilus Palleucus
The Tennessee cave salamander (''Gyrinophilus palleucus'') is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae, endemic to the Appalachian Mountains in the United States. Its natural habitats are streams in caves. It is threatened by habitat loss. Distribution The Tennessee cave salamander inhabits the southern Cumberland Plateau in the Appalachian Mountains in the United States. Its range includes south-central Tennessee, western North Carolina, northeastern Alabama, northwestern Alabama and northwestern Georgia. The salamander lives in cave systems, and is probably present in some systems as yet unexplored. Ecology The salamander's diet consists of amphipods and other small aquatic invertebrates that live in caves. It occurs on sand, gravel, mud or rock, in streams, in rimstone pools and in isolated pools. It prefers clear water without sediment. It is occasionally seen outside caves but it is thought that this occurs when it has been accidentally washed out by floodwater. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Speleomantes Sarrabusensis
The Sarrabus' cave salamander or Sette Fratelli cave salamander (''Speleomantes sarrabusensis'') or, is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is found in southeastern Sardinia, east of Cagliari. The species was thought to have been a part of ''Speleomantes imperialis The imperial cave salamander, imperial salamander, odorous cave salamander, or scented cave salamander (''Speleomantes imperialis'') is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to Sardinia. Habitat and conservation '' ...'' but was found to be a separate species. References Amphibians described in 2001 Speleomantes Amphibians of Europe Endemic fauna of Sardinia Cave salamanders {{Plethodontidae-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Speleomantes Strinatii
''Speleomantes strinatii'', the French cave salamander, North-west Italian cave salamander, or Strinati's cave salamander is a small (10-12.5 cm long) species of salamander found in northwest Italy and southeast France. It is very similar in appearance to the Italian cave salamander (''Speleomantes italicus''), but has a paler belly. Description ''S. strinatii'' is a completely terrestrial plethodontid, meaning that they are a fully land-based species. ''S. strinatii'' is one of seven species of plethodontid salamanders found in southern Europe.Lanza, B., Pastorelli, C., Laghi, P. and Cimmaruta, R. 2005. A review of systematics, taxonomy, genetics, biogeography, and natural history of the genus Speleomantes Dubois, 1984 (Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae). Atti Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Trieste, Suppl. 52: 5-`35. ''S. strinatii'' can vary widely in size. ''S. strinatii'' is highly sexually dimorphic. Male ''S. strinatii'' average about 96 millimeters in length, and can grow to up t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Speleomantes Flavus
''Speleomantes'', or European cave salamanders, are a genus of salamander in the family Plethodontidae, or lungless salamanders. It is one of two genera in the family to inhabit the Old World (the other being '' Karsenia''), with the remaining 250 or so species being found in North, Central and South America. The genus is endemic to Italy and a few nearby areas (San Marino, Monaco, and eastern Provence). Characteristics Until recently, ''Speleomantes'' was combined with the web-toed salamander genus '' Hydromantes'' from the Sierra Nevada range of California, which are their closest relatives, and are still combined by some herpetologists. They lack lungs; respiration takes place through the skin, which must be kept moist, and the lining of the mouth. The head is broad and distinct with prominent eyes. There are characteristic deep nasolabial grooves between the nostrils and the edge of the lips. The tongue has a broad tip and is extensible, being shot forward to catch prey. The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Speleomantes Italicus
The Italian cave salamander (''Speleomantes italicus'') is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. Endemic to Italy, its natural habitats are temperate forests, rocky areas, caves, and subterranean habitats (other than caves). It is threatened by habitat loss. Description The Italian cave salamander is a slender species with short limbs and grows to a length of about including a short tail. The head is broad with prominent eyes and there is a distinct groove between the nostrils and the edge of the lips. The feet are partially webbed. It is dark in colour with mottled reddish or yellowish markings and a dark belly. In the north of its range it is more variable in colour and sometimes hybridises with Ambrosi's cave salamander (''Speleomantes ambrosii''). Distribution and habitat The Italian cave salamander is native to northern Italy where it is found in the northern and central Apennine Mountains. Its range extends from the Province of Lucca and Province of Reggio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Speleomantes Supramontis
The Supramonte cave salamander (''Speleomantes supramontis'') is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae, endemic to the island of Sardinia (Italy). Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rocky areas, caves, and subterranean habitats (other than caves). It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby .... References Speleomantes Cave salamanders Amphibians of Europe Fauna of Sardinia Endemic fauna of Sardinia Amphibians described in 1986 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Plethodontidae-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Speleomantes Imperialis
The imperial cave salamander, imperial salamander, odorous cave salamander, or scented cave salamander (''Speleomantes imperialis'') is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to Sardinia. Habitat and conservation ''Speleomantes imperialis'' inhabits humid rocky outcrops, caves, crevices, and forested areas near streams at elevations of above sea level. It lays a few terrestrial eggs that have direct development (i.e., there is no free-living larval stage). While common within its limited range and not facing major threats, it can suffer localized habitat loss and illegal collection. It occurs in the National Park of the Gulf of Orosei and Gennargentu and the Monte Sette Fratelli Regional Park, probably also the Giara di Gesturi The Giara di Gesturi, sc, Sa Jara Manna, is a high, steep-sided basaltic plateau which extends for about in the districts (comuni) of Gesturi, Tuili and Setzu in the province of Medio Campidano, and Genoni in the provi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Speleomantes Ambrosii
Ambrosi's cave salamander or the Spezia cave salamander (''Speleomantes ambrosii'') is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. Endemic to northwestern Italy, its natural habitats are temperate forests, rocky areas, caves, and subterranean habitats (other than caves). It is threatened by habitat loss. Description Ambrosi's cave salamander has short, stout limbs, pointed toes and a short tail and grows to around including the tail. There is a ridge known as a canthus between the snout and the eye. The colour is variable, being brown to black with marbling, mottling or streaking in grey, green, yellow, red, pink or brown. Some individuals are a uniform brown or black colour. The underparts are also dark with paler markings. Distribution and habitat Ambrosi's cave salamander is endemic to a small area of northwestern Italy, occurring at scattered locations in La Spezia province. Despite its name, it is not restricted to caves though it retreats under stones, logs and in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eurycea Spelaea
The western grotto salamander (''Eurycea spelaea''), also called the Ozark blind salamander and previously known as just the grotto salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to the United States. Its natural habitats are freshwater springs, inland karsts, and caves. It is not currently threatened, but vulnerable to changes in groundwater quality and reduction in bat population. Taxonomy The grotto salamander was discovered in 1891 on the Ozark Plateau, and described by Leonhard Hess Stejneger in 1892. It is now considered a member of the genus '' Eurycea'', but was originally described as ''Typhlotriton speleus''.Graening, G. Fenolio, D. Slay, M. (2011). Cave Life of Oklahoma and Arkansas. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. p. 7 . Previously, it was thought to have occurred throughout the Ozark Plateau, but during the mid-20th century, two other species were described from populations formerly assigned to ''E. spelaea'': the northern ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
