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Salamander Unit
2
–
Classification of life
Salamander Unit
2
–
Classification of life
Key to the Salamanders:
1
a
Hind limbs absent
Siren
b
Hind limbs present
Go to 2
2
a
External gills present in adults
Mud puppy
b
External gills absent in adults
Go to 3
3
a
Large size (over 7 cm long)
Go to 4
b
Small size (under 7 cm long)
Go to 5
4
a
Body background black, large white spots irregular in shape and
size completely covering body & tail
Tiger
salamander
b
Body background black, small, round, white spots in a row along
each side fro eye to tip of tail
Spotted
Salamander
5
a
Body background black with white spots
Go to 6
b
Body background light color with dark spots and or lines on body
Go to 7
6
a
Small white spots on a black background in a row along each side
from head to tip of tail
Jefferson
salamander
b
Small white spots on a scattered throughout a black background
from head to tip of tail
Slimy
salamander
7
a
Large irregular black spots on a light background extending from
head to tip of tail
Marbled
salamander
b
No large irregular black spots on a light background
Go to 8
8
a
Round spots scattered along back and sides of body, tail flattened
like a tadpole
Newt
b
Without round spots and tail not flattened like a tadpole
Go to 9
9
a
Two dark lines bordering a broad, light mid-dorsal stripe with
a
narrow median dark line extending from the head onto the tail
Two-lined
salamander
b
Without two dark lines running the length of the body
Go to 10
10
a
A light stripe running the length of the body and bordered by dark
pigment extending downward on the sides
Red-backed
salamander
b
A light stripe extending the length of the body, a marked
constriction at the base of the tail
Four-toed
salamander