Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Caudata
Family: Ambystomatidae (Mole Salamander)
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Caudata
Family: Ambystomatidae (Mole Salamander)
Range: Only found in the Holarctic and Neotropical regions.
Habitat: Moist, aquatic, terrestrial environments, forests, burrows, caves, streams.
Morphology: All caudates have tails which can fall off in some (tail autotomy), both hind and forelimbs are approximately equal in size, absence of an otic notch and middle ear as well as many skull bones. Most have true teeth in both jaws.
Ecology: Mostly nocturnal animals and may remain underground until breeding season. Salamanders mainly eat insects and small invertebrates of reasonable size, but some large adults can eat fish, frogs, and other salamanders. In reproduction, caudates mainly internally fertilize. Aquatic eggs are then laid and the larvae emerges. If it is a pond-type larvae, long gills and broad fins are present. If it is a stream-type larvae, then short gills and thinner fins.
Conservation issues: The gradual decline of caudates can be attributed to habitat destruction like deforestation. Climate change is also a possibility, along with a certain fungus that causes the disease chytridiomycosis.
Habitat: Moist, aquatic, terrestrial environments, forests, burrows, caves, streams.
Morphology: All caudates have tails which can fall off in some (tail autotomy), both hind and forelimbs are approximately equal in size, absence of an otic notch and middle ear as well as many skull bones. Most have true teeth in both jaws.
Ecology: Mostly nocturnal animals and may remain underground until breeding season. Salamanders mainly eat insects and small invertebrates of reasonable size, but some large adults can eat fish, frogs, and other salamanders. In reproduction, caudates mainly internally fertilize. Aquatic eggs are then laid and the larvae emerges. If it is a pond-type larvae, long gills and broad fins are present. If it is a stream-type larvae, then short gills and thinner fins.
Conservation issues: The gradual decline of caudates can be attributed to habitat destruction like deforestation. Climate change is also a possibility, along with a certain fungus that causes the disease chytridiomycosis.