"Texas blind salamander The Texas blind salamander (""Eurycea rathbuni"") is a rare cave-dwelling troglobite amphibian native to San Marcos, Hays County, Texas, specifically the San Marcos Pool of the Edwards Aquifer. The salamander has blood-red external gills for absorbing oxygen from the water. The salamander's mature length is . Its diet varies by what flows into its cave, including blind shrimp (""Palaemonetes antrorum""), snails, and amphipods. Specimens have been collected at seven localities in the Purgatory Creek system and along the San Marcos Fault near San Marcos, Texas. Adults and immature larvae are well-adapted for living in underground streams in"
"Salamander Salamanders are a group of amphibians typically characterized by a lizard-like appearance, with slender bodies, blunt snouts, short limbs projecting at right angles to the body, and the presence of a tail in both larvae and adults. All present-day salamander families are grouped together under the order Urodela. Salamander diversity is most abundant in the Northern Hemisphere and most species are found in the Holarctic ecozone, with some species present in the Neotropical zone. Salamanders rarely have more than four toes on their front legs and five on their rear legs, but some species have fewer digits and others"
"salamanders are magical beasts that live in any area that is frozen almost all the time. They have six legs and are colored ice-blue, with a reptilian head and tail. Each leg is tipped with claws that allow the creature to walk effortlessly on ice-covered surfaces – no matter whether they are horizontal or vertical. Salamanders appear as enemies in the computer game ""Icewind Dale"", a group of them operating a forge in service to the villain in Lower Dorn's Deep. Salamander (Dungeons & Dragons) In the ""Dungeons & Dragons"" fantasy role-playing game, the salamander is an outsider from the"
"of the natural creature but often exaggerated. A large body of legend, mythology, and symbolism has developed around this creature over the centuries. In one of the earliest surviving descriptions of a salamander, Pliny the Elder (23–79 CE) noted that the creature is """"an animal like a lizard in shape and with a body specked all over; it never comes out except during heavy showers and goes away the moment the weather becomes clear."""" All of these traits, even down to the star-like markings, are consistent with the golden Alpine salamander (""Salamandra atra aurorae"") of Europe that has golden or"
"brew were said to cause extreme sexual arousal. Later research by Slovenian anthropologist Miha Kozorog (University of Ljubljana) paints a very different picture — Salamander in brandy appears to have been traditionally seen as an adulterant, one which caused ill health. It was also used as a term of slander. Salamander Salamanders are a group of amphibians typically characterized by a lizard-like appearance, with slender bodies, blunt snouts, short limbs projecting at right angles to the body, and the presence of a tail in both larvae and adults. All present-day salamander families are grouped together under the order Urodela. Salamander"
"Salamandridae Salamandridae is a family of salamanders consisting of true salamanders and newts. Currently, 74 species (with more expected) have been identified in the Northern Hemisphere - Europe, Asia, the northern tip of Africa, and North America. Salamandrids are distinguished from other salamanders by the lack of rib or costal grooves along the sides of their bodies and by their rough skin. Their skin is very granular because of the number of poison glands. They also lack nasolabial grooves. With a few exceptions, salamandrids have patterns of bright and contrasting colours, most of these are to warn potential predators of"
"Salamanders in folklore The salamander is an amphibian of the order Urodela which, as with many real creatures, often has been ascribed fantastic and sometimes occult qualities by pre-modern authors (as in the allegorical descriptions of animals in medieval bestiaries) not possessed by the real organism. The legendary salamander is often depicted as a typical salamander in shape, with a lizard-like form, but is usually ascribed an affinity with fire, sometimes specifically elemental fire. This legendary creature embodies the fantastic qualities that ancient and medieval commentators ascribed to the natural salamander. Many of these qualities are rooted in verifiable traits"
"Hellbender The hellbender (""Cryptobranchus alleganiensis""), also known as the hellbender salamander, is a species of aquatic giant salamander endemic to eastern North America. A member of the family Cryptobranchidae, the hellbender is the only member of the genus ""Cryptobranchus"", and is joined only by one other genus of salamanders (""Andrias"", which contains the Japanese and Chinese giant salamanders) at the family level. The hellbender, which is much larger than all other salamanders in its geographic range, employs an unusual means of respiration (which involves cutaneous gas exchange through capillaries found in its dorsoventral skin folds), and fills a particular niche"
"male salamander will spawn with more than one female in his den. On occasion, the male ""den master"" will also allow a second male into the den; the reason for this is unclear. Giant salamander The Cryptobranchidae are a family of fully aquatic salamanders commonly known as the giant salamanders. A single species, the hellbender (""Cryptobranchus alleganiensis"") occurs in the eastern United States, while Asian species occur in China and Japan. They are the largest living amphibians known today. The Japanese giant salamander (""Andrias japonicus"") reaches up to in length, feeds at night on fish and crustaceans, and has been"
"mired in controversy due to a dispute by House members who argue that Wehrle's salamander should be given the honor. Hellbender The hellbender (""Cryptobranchus alleganiensis""), also known as the hellbender salamander, is a species of aquatic giant salamander endemic to eastern North America. A member of the family Cryptobranchidae, the hellbender is the only member of the genus ""Cryptobranchus"", and is joined only by one other genus of salamanders (""Andrias"", which contains the Japanese and Chinese giant salamanders) at the family level. The hellbender, which is much larger than all other salamanders in its geographic range, employs an unusual means"
"as the Urodela. There are about 655 extant species of salamander. Caudata The Caudata are a group of amphibians containing the salamanders (Urodela) and all extinct species of salamander-like amphibians more closely related to salamanders than to frogs. They are typically characterized by a superficially lizard-like appearance, with slender bodies, blunt snouts, short limbs projecting at right angles to the body, and the presence of a tail in both larvae and adults. Disagreement exists between different authorities as to the definition of the terms ""Caudata"" and ""Urodela"". Some maintain that Urodela should be restricted to the crown group, with Caudata"
"used as a ""fiery"" spice. Salamanders in folklore The salamander is an amphibian of the order Urodela which, as with many real creatures, often has been ascribed fantastic and sometimes occult qualities by pre-modern authors (as in the allegorical descriptions of animals in medieval bestiaries) not possessed by the real organism. The legendary salamander is often depicted as a typical salamander in shape, with a lizard-like form, but is usually ascribed an affinity with fire, sometimes specifically elemental fire. This legendary creature embodies the fantastic qualities that ancient and medieval commentators ascribed to the natural salamander. Many of these qualities"
"salamander prefers streams that are relatively pure, it is important to monitor human waste and pollution, since debris and silt could have adverse effects on their habitat, potentially causing a threat to survival. Red salamander The red salamander (""Pseudotriton ruber"") is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae endemic to the Eastern United States. Its skin is orange/red with random black spots. Its habitats are temperate forests, small creeks, ponds, forests, temperate shrubland, rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater, trees springs. Overall this species is common and widespread, but locally it has declined because of habitat loss and it is considered"
"Salamander (Dungeons & Dragons) In the ""Dungeons & Dragons"" fantasy role-playing game, the salamander is an outsider from the Elemental Plane of fire. It resembles a mix of a snake and a human made out of fire, magma, and smoke. From the waist up, it resembles an orange and black human, generally male (though females also exist) with fiery hair and beard. Some depictions also show it with fiery antlers. From the waist down it is snake-like, resembling a glowing, orange and black serpent of magma. All over the body are short, spine-like appendages which burn and steam. The salamander"
"Giant salamander The Cryptobranchidae are a family of fully aquatic salamanders commonly known as the giant salamanders. A single species, the hellbender (""Cryptobranchus alleganiensis"") occurs in the eastern United States, while Asian species occur in China and Japan. They are the largest living amphibians known today. The Japanese giant salamander (""Andrias japonicus"") reaches up to in length, feeds at night on fish and crustaceans, and has been known to live for more than 50 years in captivity. The Chinese giant salamander (""Andrias davidianus"") can reach a length of . The family name is from the Ancient Greek ""krypto"" (""hidden""), and"
"Amphiuma Amphiuma is a genus of aquatic salamanders from the United States, the only extant genus within the family Amphiumidae . They are colloquially known as amphiumas. They are also known to fishermen as ""conger eels"" or ""Congo snakes"", which are zoologically incorrect designations or misnomers, since amphiumas are actually salamanders (and thus amphibians), and not fish, nor reptiles. ""Amphiuma"" exhibits one of the largest complements of DNA in the living world, around 25 times more than a human. Amphiumas have an elongated body, generally grey-black in color. They do have legs, but they are merely vestigial and very small."
"Van Dyke's salamander Van Dyke's salamander (""Plethodon vandykei"") is a small woodland salamander in the family Plethodontidae, the lungless salamanders. These animals breathe through their skin and are largely terrestrial. Compared to other salamanders in ""Plethodon"" it is relatively stocky with long legs. Usually associated with streams, seepages, and rock outcrops, it is endemic to Washington where it is found in a limited number of small, isolated populations. Van Dyke's salamander was first described by John Van Denburgh in 1906 from a specimen found in Mount Rainier National Park. The species was named in honor of its collector, Edwin Cooper"
"Seal salamander The seal salamander (""Desmognathus monticola"") is a species of lungless salamander that is endemic to the Eastern United States. The seal salamander can be found from southwestern Pennsylvania and south through Appalachian Mountains areas of high elevation in West Virginia, western Maryland, western and northern Virginia, eastern Kentucky, western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, western South Carolina, and northern Georgia to central Alabama. There are also disjunctive populations in southern Alabama as well as at the very western end of the Florida panhandle. In the north of its range, it has not been observed north or west of the"
"Red salamander The red salamander (""Pseudotriton ruber"") is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae endemic to the Eastern United States. Its skin is orange/red with random black spots. Its habitats are temperate forests, small creeks, ponds, forests, temperate shrubland, rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater, trees springs. Overall this species is common and widespread, but locally it has declined because of habitat loss and it is considered threatened in Indiana. Red salamanders eat insects, earthworms, spiders, small crustaceans, snails and smaller salamanders. The red salamander, as a member of the family Plethodontidae (lungless salamanders), lacks lungs and respires through its"
"be philopatric. The species largely consumes invertebrates and other detritus dwellers. In some areas with good habitat, these salamanders are so numerous, their population densities may surpass 1,000 individuals per acre. Pokagon State Park in Indiana is one such place. Red-backed salamander The red-backed (or redback) salamander (""Plethodon cinereus"") is a small, hardy woodland salamander. It inhabits wooded slopes in eastern North America, west to Missouri, south to North Carolina, and north from southern Quebec and the Maritime Provinces in Canada to Minnesota. It is also known as the eastern red-backed salamander or the northern red-backed salamander to distinguish it"
"lighter underbelly. The head is flattened. Fingers and toes are unwebbed. Delicate-skinned salamander The delicate-skinned salamander (""Ambystoma bombypellum"") is an extremely rare species of mole salamander. The delicate-skinned salamander was first described by herpetologist Edward Harrison Taylor from a holotype found in 1939 near Rancho Guadalupe, 14 km. east of San Martín in the north-western Asunción province in Mexico. It is until today the only habitat for this species. Introduced predatory fish and habitat destruction due to agriculture lead to a desiccation of the breeding ponds and to a severely decline of the population. It is a small terrestrial species"
"Slender salamander Slender salamander is the name often given to Plethodontid (lungless) salamanders of the genus Batrachoseps. They are distinguished from other lungless salamanders by their four toes on each foot. Their mature red blood cells have no nucleus, which is a trait that is only known to occur in mammals and certain species of fish. Their range is from Oregon and California (USA) to northern Baja California (Mexico). Batracho-seps means ""frog-lizard."" 21 species are recognized in this genus: The taxonomy of this genus is still uncertain. Some species may in fact be subspecies of others, and some subspecies may"
"the main character is a ""hanzaki"" called ""Zakihan"". Japanese giant salamander The Japanese giant salamander (""Andrias japonicus"") is endemic to Japan, where it is known as , literally meaning ""giant pepper fish"". With a length of up to almost 1.5 m (5 ft), it is the second-largest salamander in the world, only being surpassed by the very similar and closely related Chinese giant salamander (""A. davidianus""). There are only three known members of the Cryptobranchidae family: the Japanese and Chinese giant salamanders and the Eastern hellbender. Japanese giant salamanders are widespread across rivers in southwestern Japan. The species frequently hybridizes"
"Salamandroidea The Salamandroidea are a suborder of salamanders, referred to as advanced salamanders. The members of the suborder are found worldwide except for Antarctica, sub-Saharan Africa, and Oceania. They differ from suborder Cryptobranchoidea as the angular and prearticular bones in their lower jaws are fused, and all members use internal fertilization. The female is fertilized by means of a spermatophore, a sperm-containing cap placed by the male in her cloaca. The sperm is stored in spermathecae on the roof of the cloaca until it is needed at the time of oviposition. The earliest known salamandroid fossils are specimens of the"
"Caucasian salamander The Caucasian salamander (""Mertensiella caucasica"") is a species of stream-dwelling salamander in the family Salamandridae. This is a salamander of medium size, with a thin, elongated body. It is a relict species, endemic to the south-western Caucasus, in Georgia and Turkey. The subspecies ""M. c. janashvilii"" is found at Mt. Mtirala near Batumi and probably along the Black Sea coast. The Caucasian salamander lives along the banks of mountain brooks and small rivers with fast currents, both in the forest belt and above timberline, up to about 2400 m above sea level. The species is secretive and strictly"
"Two-toed amphiuma The two-toed amphiuma (""Amphiuma means"") is a snake-like salamander found chiefly in the southeastern United States. It is commonly, but incorrectly, called ""congo snake"", ""conger eel"" or the ""blind eel"". One of the largest extant species of amphibians in the world, they can grow from in mass and from in length. They have four vestigial legs that end in two or three toes which are virtually useless, and eyes without lids. They are blue-black in color. They feed on small fish, crawfish, insect larvae, and even small snakes; they are harmless to humans when left alone, but when"
"required; and, ""E. lucifuga"" is neither blind nor depigmented. Cave salamander 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 highly notable exception of ""Proteus anguinus"", all ""cave salamanders"" are members of the family Plethodontidae (""lungless salamanders""). The first dedicated scientific study of a cave animal was focused"
"was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the ""D&D"" game. The salamander was introduced to the game in its first supplement, ""Greyhawk"" (1975). It is described as a free-willed, highly intelligent fire elemental. The salamander appears in the first edition ""Monster Manual"" (1977), where it is described as an evil creature of the elemental plane of fire that prefers temperatures of 300 degrees and upwards. This edition of the ""D&D"" game included its own version of the salamander, known as the flame salamander, in the ""Expert Set"" (1981 & 1983), and the ""Companion Rules"" (1984), and was also later"
"Cave salamander 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 highly notable exception of ""Proteus anguinus"", all ""cave salamanders"" are members of the family Plethodontidae (""lungless salamanders""). The first dedicated scientific study of a cave animal was focused upon a cave salamander, ""Proteus anguinus"". It was originally"
"Tiger salamander The tiger salamander or eastern tiger salamander (""Ambystoma tigrinum"") is a North American species of mole salamander. Tiger salamanders grow to a typical length of and a maximum of in length, particularly neotenic individuals. Adults are usually blotchy with grey, green, or black, and have large, lidded eyes. They have short snouts, thick necks, sturdy legs, and long tails. Their diets consist largely of small insects and worms, though it is not rare for an adult to consume small frogs and baby mice. Adults are rarely seen in the open, and often live in burrows that are usually"
"of symplesiomorphy, their common retention of the primitive tetrapod body plan, and they are no more closely related to lizards than they are to mammals. Their nearest relatives are the frogs and toads, within Batrachia. The earliest known salamander fossils have been found in geological deposits in China and Kazakhstan, dated to the middle Jurassic period around 164 million years ago. Salamanders are found only in the Holarctic and Neotropical regions, not reaching south of the Mediterranean Basin, the Himalayas, or in South America the Amazon Basin. They do not extend north of the Arctic tree line, with the northernmost"
"these sexual dimorphic traits, and in certain locations female and male bodies do not exhibit any traits with significant differences. Amphiuma Amphiuma is a genus of aquatic salamanders from the United States, the only extant genus within the family Amphiumidae . They are colloquially known as amphiumas. They are also known to fishermen as ""conger eels"" or ""Congo snakes"", which are zoologically incorrect designations or misnomers, since amphiumas are actually salamanders (and thus amphibians), and not fish, nor reptiles. ""Amphiuma"" exhibits one of the largest complements of DNA in the living world, around 25 times more than a human. Amphiumas"
"any protected areas. Southern giant salamander The southern giant salamander (Isthmura maxima, in Spanish ""salamandra gigante de Putla"") is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to Mexico and known from western and southern Oaxaca and eastern Guerrero. It is the largest tropical salamander; the holotype had a total length of about and weighed . Adult males measure and females in snout–vent length (SVL). The tail is moderately long, on average 99% of SVL in males and 85% SVL in females. The coloration is variable but in general it is uniformly black, with markings consisting of"