MadSci Network: Zoology |
Yael- First, see if the specimen has gills. If it doesn't have gills, check for a light line running from the eye to the mouth. If it's got that line, it's a _Desmognathus._ If it doesn't, look at the eyes and neck. If the neck is wider than the head and the eyes are not protruberant, then that also means it's a _Desmognathus._ But if the neck is narrower than the head (or at least no wider) and the eyes are protruberant, it's something else. Count the toes. If there are only four toes, you've got a _Batrachoseps._ If there are 5 toes, open its mouth to have a look at its tongue. If the tongue is attached in the front of its mouth, its either _Aneides_ or _Plethodon._ If the digits are square-tipped, or if the teeth protrude below the upper lip, it's _Aneides._ In _Plethodon,_ the digits are round-tipped and the teeth don't protrude. If the tongue attaches in the middle of the floor of the mouth, it's either _Eurycea_ or _Pseudotriton._ Of the two, only _Eurycea_ is found west of the Mississippi. If the specimen was collected east of the Mississippi, count the costal grooves on the animal's sides. If there are 15 or fewer costal grooves and if the sides are darker than the back, then it's _Eurycea._ If there are 16 or more costal grooves, then it's _Pseudotriton._ If the specimen DOES have gills, you'll need to count the gill slits -- vertical openings at the base of the gills in each side of the neck. _Desmognathus_ has four gill slits. If it has 3 gill slits, it's one of the other genera -- count the toes and proceed normally from there. Good luck! Russell J. Hawley
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