Do Plethodontidae have gills?
Sirens have external gills, no hindlimbs, and reduced forelimbs. They are totally aquatic and inhabit sluggish waterways of southern North America. There are two genera in the family Sirenidae, Siren and Pseudobranchus, each with two species (Vitt and Caldwell, 2009).
What are the characteristics of Urodela?
Salamanders (Caudata; Urodela, stem-based name) have well-developed tails; cylindrical, often elongate, bodies; and distinct heads. Most also have well-developed limbs, frequently short relative to body length, although two clades have reduced or lost limbs.
Do Caudata have gills?
Annotated classification The most primitive salamanders; external fertilization; angular bone separate from the prearticular bone in the lower jaw; 2 pairs of limbs; no external gills; aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial.
What species is included in the Plethodontidae family?
lungless salamanders
It belongs to a family of lungless salamanders that breathe only through their moist skin. lungless salamander, (family Plethodontidae), any of more than 370 species of lungless amphibians dependent largely on cutaneous respiration (gas exchange through moistened skin).
How do amphibians breathe?
Most amphibians breathe through lungs and their skin. Their skin has to stay wet in order for them to absorb oxygen so they secrete mucous to keep their skin moist (If they get too dry, they cannot breathe and will die).
What animals have Pedicellate teeth?
Pedicellate teeth are a tooth morphology today unique to modern amphibians, but also seen in a variety of extinct labyrinthodonts.
What are characteristics of order Caudata?
Shared-derived characters of Caudata are the presence of a developed tail, the similar length of all their limbs, presence of gills in aquatic larvae, presence of teeth on both jaws, the absence of tympanic ears, and presence of ribs (Duellman and Trueb, 1986).
What are the characteristics of Apoda?
Caecilians (Gymnophiona; Apoda, stem-based name) are amphibians that look like earthworms. They have blunt, bullet-shaped heads, cylindrical, limbless bodies, and short tails.
What are the characteristics of Anura?
Frogs and toads (Anura; Salientia, stem-based name) are unmistakable with their unique short, tailless bodies; broad, flat heads with big mouths; and long, muscular hindlimbs. This body form is associated with and likely evolved as an adaptation for saltatory (jumping) locomotion.
Which of the following is a characteristic of the Plethodontids that distinguish this group from other salamanders?
A number of features distinguish the plethodontids from other salamanders. Most significantly, they lack lungs, conducting respiration through their skin, and the tissues lining their mouths.
How many species are in Plethodontidae?
By far the most speciose and diverse family of salamanders, Plethodontidae comprises more than 250 species in approximately 28 genera.
What are 5 characteristics of amphibians?
What are the 7 main characteristics of amphibians? Amphibians have a backbone, are cold-blooded, need a moist place to live, can breathe air through their skin, externally fertilize their eggs, eat meat, and grow legs when they mature.
What are the characteristics of plethodontids?
All plethodontids are also lungless (lunglessness and reduced lungs are independently derived in the few other salamander species showing this character). All adult plethodontids have four limbs, with four digits on the forelimbs. Several skeletal characters, including the loss of multiple cranial bones, also diagnose the group.
What is the difference between plethodontids and salamanders?
A number of features distinguish the plethodontids from other salamanders. Most significantly, they lack lungs, conducting respiration through their skin, and the tissues lining their mouths. Another distinctive feature is the presence of a vertical slit between the nostril and upper lip, known as the “nasolabial groove”.
How many species of Plethodontidae are there?
The Plethodontidae is the largest family of salamanders, with over 275 species in 28 genera. Most of these species are members of the tribes Plethodontini and Bolitoglossini of the subfamily Plethodontinae and are completely terrestrial and direct developing.
Is Plethodontidae lungless?
All members of the Plethodontidae are lungless, and respiration must take place through the skin or partly through the buccopharyngeal cavity. 10. Plethodontidae