Spotted-tail salamander
| Cave salamander | |
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| File:Eurycea lucifuga in natural habitat.jpg | |
| Adult Eurycea lucifuga | |
| Scientific classification | |
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E. lucifuga
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| Binomial name | |
| Eurycea lucifuga Rafinesque
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The cave salamander (Eurycea lucifuga), also known as the spotted-tail salamander,[2] is a species of brook salamander.[3]
Contents
Description
The cave salamander is a relatively large lungless salamander, ranging in size from 10 to 20 cm in total body length. The tail makes up a significant proportion of the total length, up to 60–65%.[4] Post-metamorphic individuals have orange to reddish orange backs and a pale, unmarked ventral surface. The dorsal surface of the body is heavily marked with irregularly spaced spots and dashes.[5] The limbs of the cave salamander are long. There are 14–15 costal grooves on the side of the body. This species has a prehensile tail.[6]
Habitat and distribution
Cave salamanders are typically found in areas with exposed limestone or other calcareous rock, particularly in crevices of rock faces, bluffs and caves.[7] This species is also frequently found hundreds of metres from the mouths of caves, far beyond the twilight zone of the cave.[8] Despite the name, the cave salamander is not restricted to caves, and may be found in forests near bluffs and rocky crevices and around springs, and also under moist rocks and logs.[6][9] This species is found in Alabama, Arkansas[2] Illinois,[10] Missouri,[11] Kentucky, Virginia,[12] West Virginia,[10] Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kansas and Indiana.
Courtship and reproduction
The courtship and mating season is not well documented in this species, although available data suggests it occurs in the summer, continuing to early autumn. Observations made from a pair maintained in captivity are summarized as follows: The courtship of this species is described as similar to that of the Northern two-lined salamander; where the nudges and rubs his chin on the females’ head and snout. The male may engage in ‘push-ups’ using his hind legs, and begin to position the base of his tail under the females. If receptive, she will straddle his tail as they walk in unison, while the male arches his back. A spermatophore, approximately 4 mm high is deposited on the ground in the females path, which she picks up with her cloaca.[13] After mating, there seems to be a prolonged period in which the females deposit eggs, taking places from September to February.[6] Few biologists have found eggs of the cave salamander, suggesting that females seek difficult to access places, such as springs, streams and rim stone pools deep within caves and crevices Petranka. In Missouri, eggs have been found laid singly or attached to the sides of rimstone pools, on silt deposits or on the bottom of small pools. Recently laid eggs are white, with two jelly membranes surrounding the embryo. Egg diameter ranges from 2.5 to 3.2 mm.[14] Females can produce between 5–120 eggs.[15]
Larval ecology
Larval cave salamanders appear similar to other larval Eurycea. Larvae have been found in both surface streams, and in cave streams and pools. It is thought that larvae found in surface streams may have been washed out of caves and crevices by heavy rains. Cave salamander larvae are predators, and feed primarily on benthic invertebrates, such as snails, ostracods, copepods, isopods, mayflies, stoneflies, beetles and flies, of which ostracods, snails and fly larvae are the most common dietary item. Prey is captured by slowly crawling over the substrate and grasping the invertebrate by the mouth and swallowing it whole, thus prey is limited by the gape of the salamanders mouth.[16] From hatching to metamorphosis to a terrestrial adult takes between 6 and 18 months, although this period is variable by region.[6] Larvae may attain sizes of 70 mm (33 mm snout-to-vent-length) by the time of metamorphosis.[17]
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Conant, R., Collins, J. 1998. Peterson Field Guides: Reptiles and Amphibians (Eastern/Central North America). New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company ISBN 0395904528.
- ↑ Hutchison, V.H. 1966. Eurycea lucifuga. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. pp. 24.1–24.2
- ↑ Lannoo, M. J. 1998. Status and Conservation of Midwestern Amphibians. University of Iowa Press, Iowa City ISBN 0877456321.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Petranka, J.W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press ISBN 1588343081.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Mount, R.H. 1975. The Reptiles and Amphibians of Alabama. Auburn Printing, Auburn, Alabama ISBN 0817300546.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Conant, R. and J. T. Collins. 1998. A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians: Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, New York ISBN 0395904528.
- ↑ Johnson, T. and K. Love. 1987. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri ISBN 1887247092.
- ↑ Smith, Hobart M. 1978. Amphibians of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press, New York. p. 160 ISBN 0307636623
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Bishop, S. 1994. Handbook of Salamanders: The Salamanders of the United States, of Canada, and of Lower California. London: Comstock Publishing Associates ISBN 0801482135.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
See also
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