Salamander
29657
226119331
2008-07-16T22:12:43Z
Danausakai
6959840
The part about ecdysis should be deleted. Read the link on ecdysis. It does not relate to regeneration. Ecdysis is about shedding an exoskeleton.
{{Mergefrom|Urodela|date=July 2007|User:SMcCandlish}}
{{otheruses}}
{{Taxobox
| name = Salamanders
| image = Salamandra salamandra (Marek Szczepanek).jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''[[Salamandra salamandra]]''
| fossil_range = [[Jurassic]] - Recent
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordata]]
| classis = [[Amphibia]]
| subclassis = [[Lissamphibia]]
| ordo = '''Caudata/Urodela'''
| range_map = Distribution.caudata.1.png
| range_map_width = 250px
| subdivision_ranks = [[Suborder]]s
| subdivision =
[[Cryptobranchoidea]]<br>
[[Salamandroidea]]<br>
[[Sirenoidea]]
}}
'''Salamander''' (orig. from [[Persian Language|Persian]]: ''sām'', "fire", and ''andarūn'', "within") is the common name for a group of approximately 500 [[species]] of [[amphibians]] typically characterized by slender bodies, short legs, and long tails. They have four front toes and their hind legs have five. Their moist skin usually makes them reliant on habitats in or near water or under some protection on moist ground, often in a [[swamp]]. Some salamander species are aquatic throughout life, some take to the water intermittently, and some are entirely terrestrial as adults. They lay eggs in water. Uniquely among [[vertebrate]]s, they are capable of [[regeneration (biology)|regenerating]] lost limbs, as well as other body parts.
Respiration differs among the different species of salamanders. In those that lack lungs, respiration is done through the gills as water passes over the gill slits. Some salamanders that are terrestrial have lungs that are used in respiration similar to that in mammals. However, some terrestrial species lack both lungs and gills and perform gas exchange through their skin, a process known as valarian respiration in which the capillary beds are spread throughout the epidermis, including inside the mouth.
Hunting is yet another unique aspect of salamanders. Muscles surrounding the [[hyoid bone]] contract to create pressure and actually "shoot" the hyoid bone out of the mouth along with the tongue. The tip of the tongue is composed of mucus which creates a sticky end to which the prey is captured. Muscles in the pelvic region are used in order to reel the tongue and the hyoid back to its original position.
Salamanders split off from the other amphibians during the Mid to Late Permian, and initially were similar to modern members of the [[Cryptobranchoidea]]. Any resemblance to [[lizard]]s is the result of convergence of the basic [[tetrapod]] body plan, as they are no more closely related to lizards than they are to mammals. Their nearest relatives are the frogs and toads, within Batrachia.
==Habitat==
Species of salamander are numerous and found in most moist or arid habitats in the northern hemisphere. They usually live in or near brooks, creeks, ponds, and other moist locations. Many are relatively small, but there are definite exceptions. [[North America]] hosts the [[hellbender]], the eastern tiger salamander, and the [[mudpuppy]] which can reach the length of {{convert|1|foot|cm}} or more. In [[Japan]] and [[China]] the [[giant salamander]] is found, which reaches {{convert|6|ft|m|1}} and weighs up to {{convert|30|kg|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2002-12/19/content_663873.htm|title=Digitally tagging and releasing}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.giant-salamander.com/|title=International Giant Salamander Protection Site}}</ref> There are ten families belonging to the order '''Urodela''', divided into three suborders:
{| class="wikitable"
|colspan="100%" align="center" {{bgcolor-blue}}|'''[[Cryptobranchoidea]] (Giant salamanders)
|-
!Family!!Common Names!!Example Species!!
Example Photo
|-
|[[Cryptobranchidae]]||Giant salamanders||[[Hellbender]] (''Cryptobranchus alleganiensis'')|| [[Image:Cryptobranchus alleganiensis.jpg|100px|]]
|-
|[[Hynobiidae]]||Asiatic salamanders||[[Hida Salamander]] (''Hynobius kimurae'')|| [[Image:Hynobius kimurae (cropped) edit.jpg|100px|]]
|-
|colspan="100%" align="center" {{bgcolor-blue}}|'''[[Salamandroidea]]''' (Advanced salamanders)
|-
|[[Ambystomatidae]]||Mole salamanders||[[Marbled Salamander]] (''Ambystoma opacum'')||[[Image:Ambystoma opacumPCSLXYB.jpg|100px]]
|-
|[[Amphiumidae]]||Amphiumas or Congo eels||[[Two-toed Amphiuma]] (''Amphiuma means'')||[[Image:Amphiuma means.jpg|100px]]
|-
|[[Dicamptodontidae]]||Pacific giant salamanders||[[Pacific Giant Salamander]] (''Dicamptodon tenebrosus'')||[[Image:Dicamptodon tenebrosus.jpg|100px]]
|-
|[[Lungless salamander|Plethodontidae]]||Lungless salamanders||[[Red Back Salamander]] (''Plethodon cinereus'')||[[Image:Plethodon cinereus.jpg|100px]]
|-
|[[Proteidae]]||Mudpuppies and olms||[[Olm]] (''Proteus anguinus'')||[[Image:Proteus humanfish.jpg|100px]]
|-
|[[Rhyacotritonidae]]||Torrent salamanders||[[Southern Torrent Salamander]] (''Rhyacotriton variegatus'')||[[Image:Rhyacotriton variegatus.jpg|100px]]
|-
|[[Salamandridae]]||Newts and true salamanders||[[Alpine Newt]] (''Triturus alpestris'')||[[Image:Mesotriton aplestris dorsal view chrischan.jpeg|100px]]
|-
|colspan="100%" align="center" {{bgcolor-blue}}|'''[[Sirenoidea]]''' (Sirens)
|-
|[[Sirenidae]]||Sirens||[[Greater Siren]] (''Siren lacertina'')||[[Image:Sirenlacertina.JPG|100px]]
|-
|}
==Development==
The life history of salamanders is similar to other amphibians such as [[frogs]]. The life cycle begins with an egg stage, usually laid the previous winter in a pond. A larval stage follows in which the organism is fully aquatic. Depending on species, the larval stage may or may not possess legs. The salamander possesses gills at this point. Some species (such as [[Dunn's Salamander]] (Plethodon dunni)) of salamander exhibit no larval stage. [[Neoteny]] has been observed in all salamander families, in which an individual may retain gills into sexual maturity. This may be universally possible in all salamander species<ref>{{cite web|url=http://http://www.uoregon.edu/~titus/herp_old/neoteny.htm|title=Salamander Neoteny}}</ref>. More commonly, however, metamorphosis continues with the loss of gills, the growth (or increase in size) of legs, and the capability of the animal to function terrestrially.
==Mythology==
{{main|Salamander (legendary creature)}}
Numerous legends have developed around the salamander over the centuries, many related to fire. This connection likely originates from the tendency of many salamanders to dwell inside rotting logs. When placed into a fire, the salamander would attempt to escape from the log, lending to the belief that salamanders were created from flames - a belief that gave the creature its name.
Associations of the salamander with fire appear in the [[Talmud]] and the [[Hadith]], as well as in the writings of [[Conrad Lycosthenes]], [[Benvenuto Cellini]], [[Ray Bradbury]], [[David Weber]], [[Paracelsus]] and [[Leonardo da Vinci]].
==Popular culture==
:See [[Newt#Newts in popular culture|Newts in Popular culture]]
:See [[Salamander (legendary creature) in popular culture]]. ''Salamanders as creatures with an affinity for fire belong in that article. This section covers the natural creatures.''
The band, "The Cephalopod Frijoles" derives it's inspiration from Jesse Beard, a human salamander.
==Notes==
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{{reflist}}
==References==
*{{cite journal
| last = San Mauro
| first = Diego
| title = Initial diversification of living amphibians predated the breakup of Pangaea
| url = http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/AN/journal/issues/v165n5/40546/40546.html
| journal = American Naturalist
| volume = 165
| pages = 590–599
| year = 2005
| month = May
| coauthors = Miguel Vences, Marina Alcobendas, Rafael Zardoya and Axel Meyer
| doi = 10.1086/429523
| format = {{dead link|date=June 2008}} – <sup>[http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=author%3ASan+Mauro+intitle%3AInitial+diversification+of+living+amphibians+predated+the+breakup+of+Pangaea&as_publication=American+Naturalist&as_ylo=2005&as_yhi=2005&btnG=Search Scholar search]</sup>
}}
== External references ==
* [http://www.caudata.nl Caudata.nl - The Dutch Newt & Salamander Site]
* [http://www.caudata.org/cc/ Caudata Culture]
* [http://www.biologo.com.br/biology/videos/salamander.html Salamander Video]
* [http://www.schwanzlurche.de Caudatamedia]
{{Amphibians}}
[[Category:Amphibians]]
[[Category:Salamanders| ]]
[[Category:Persian loanwords]]
[[ar:سلمندر]]
[[bg:Опашати земноводни]]
[[da:Halepadder]]
[[de:Schwanzlurche]]
[[el:Σαλαμάνδρα]]
[[es:Salamandra salamandra]]
[[eo:Salamandro]]
[[fa:سمندر]]
[[fr:Urodèle]]
[[ko:도롱뇽목]]
[[it:Urodela]]
[[he:בעלי זנב]]
[[lt:Uodeguotieji varliagyviai]]
[[hu:Farkos kétéltűek]]
[[ms:Urodela]]
[[nl:Salamanders]]
[[ja:有尾目]]
[[no:Salamandere]]
[[oc:Urodela]]
[[pl:Płazy ogoniaste]]
[[pt:Caudados]]
[[ru:Хвостатые земноводные]]
[[simple:Salamander]]
[[sl:Repati krkoni]]
[[fi:Salamanterit]]
[[sv:Stjärtgroddjur]]
[[tr:Semender]]
[[uk:Саламандра]]
[[wa:Ecawêyès glumiantès biesses]]
[[zh:有尾目]]