tailed amphibians, whose representatives are very few in number, have a great similarity in the structure of the frogs.But, unlike frogs, tailed species, there are about 340. To tailed amphibians are newts, salamanders and salamanders.
external structure of tailed amphibians
Just like frogs, their skin tailed naked, have four limbs, but there is the tail.Externally tailed amphibians like the lizards, although they have gills.The lines of the body smooth, without sharp corners.
limbs are used only for movement on land, in water tailed amphibians do not use them.
eyes, as well as frogs, covered with transparent lids to protect them from dirt and getting sun.
Habitats
almost exclusively in the northern hemisphere live tailed amphibians.Species of some prefer to live in the water and only very rarely appear on land.Others, on the contrary, constantly live on the land and go into the water if necessary.These species are almost helpless in the water.And I love to live in the water, on the contrary, can not move normally on the beach.In these kinds of very short legs.The article presents their interesting photos.
tailed amphibians are mostly nocturnal and spend the day in burrows, under stones, in stumps or other shelters.
salamander
These amphibians tailed family live in Southeast Asia.But one of its representatives, the Siberian newt, live in the Arctic Circle.
This is probably the only kind of cold-blooded, which got so far north.Siberian newt - a very ancient form, and most of all, survived thanks to the fact that the edge of the permafrost had no competitors.
Siberian newt is able to survive low temperatures, and there were occasions when he is a hundred years ago frozen in the ice of "Siberian" and he came to life after the melting of the ice.
Fire Salamander Salamanders
anciently known not as an amphibian, tailless, as well as the mythical pesonazh.It was believed that the salamander is not afraid of fire, lives in a stove or fireplace and protects the house from fire.According to another version, it was the spirit of burning.
But the most striking representative - the fire salamander - was named not for this reason.Just her beautiful skin color: bright red and orange spots on black background.And, as a person's fingerprint, the shape of the spots is not repeated.
fire salamander lives close to other types of so-called salamandridae.They live in North America, Europe and Asia.
Salamander has a long tail and legs without swimming membranes.
giant salamanders
are a family of giant salamander, a detachment tailed amphibians.
It is the largest representative of all kind of tailed amphibians.The length of the giant salamanders can reach one and a half meters.
mainly live near the major rivers of China and Japan.She likes fast current.Under the large overhanging rocks or spends the daytime and night out for prey.It feeds on small fish giant salamanders, frogs, insects and crustaceans.Her fall is equipped with small teeth, which are used to hold the prey.
body of this salamander flattened laterally, as well as the head.The tail also is compressed at the sides and uchuvstvuet in moving through the water.
The forelegs are thick and giant salamanders have four toes.On the hind legs of five fingers.
Color in this species heterogeneous, back painted in dark gray, with a barely noticeable spots, and the belly is bright and also stained a dark color.
Currently, giant salamanders are rarely found in nature.She has a very tasty meat, and it became the subject of hunting.
Allegamsky giant salamander
Lives in North America and has a length of a little more than half a meter.In appearance similar to giant salamanders.Color light or brown skin from the sides to the edges of the hind legs stretch the skin folds.
Lives in fast flowing rivers, in the most shallow places.Nocturnal, except for mating season.Hunts allegamsky giant salamander in the water and very rarely rises to the surface.
Tritons
In ancient Greece, newts called the male version of a mermaid.But now called newts tailed amphibians that live mostly in the water.
Build newts slightly different from the addition of salamanders: the body is flattened laterally, and the tail has a small rim that resembles a fish fin.
legs newt not too developed and poorly adapted for movement on land.In water, it feels much more confident and swims with the help of the tail.While driving an amphibious throws forelimbs behind his back and use them as a rudder.
Tritons are nocturnal - the day holed up in the shelter and go out at night to hunt.They eat worms and insects.In the winter hiding in small groups in the foliage near the pond where are planning to get the spring.
tiger salamander
These tailed amphibians do not grow large.Their length of 15-20 centimeters.There are eight subspecies.His head tiger salamander round and large, and body fat.
Color animal dark brown or dark olive with yellow spots.
These tailed amphibians prefer to live with calm waters - ponds or lakes.Very rarely inhabit the rivers.Like all amphibians, are nocturnal, and at night to obtain food.Tiger salamander feeds on insects, worms, clams and other small invertebrates.
This kind can keep the house in an aquarium.Also, in some states of the USA tiger salamander on the list of protected animals.
Pacific salamander
It lives in the forests of Canada and the United States.Salamanders settle in burrows, and do not dig them ourselves and enjoy the refuge of small rodents.Or find some object on the earth, and are settling there.
most interesting feature - it is protection from enemies.Pacific salamander is able to drop his tail like a lizard.It can also throw poison in the tail.
In the attack, it resembles a cat: pull the tail pipe, arches his back and shoots poison.In most cases, so it protects their laying, but in some cases it may carry from place to place.
Blackbelly bezlegochnaya
salamander lives in the mountains Apalachee, which are located in the United States.He likes to settle near the cold mountain streams.
Color Black salamanders, with a barely discernible dark spots on the back.
Blackbelly salamander is very nimble and aggressive.Unlike other salamanders, loves to go out of the water and walk around the neighborhood of his pond.Can jump over rocks, slopes and branches.
In the case of lightning danger hiding in the water and among the masked underwater foliage.
metabolism Blackbelly salamanders slow, so she rarely eats little.This species belongs to bezlegochnym salamanders.
Triton
ordinary lives in the temperate zone of Eurasia.Triton small size, adults can grow up to 12 centimeters.Of these, 6 - is the length of the tail.
Color newt ordinary - brown and yellowish belly.According to the skins scattered colored spots.To attract females, males are much more brightly colored.In the mating season the male appears toothed comb beautiful orange and blue.It starts from the head and ends at the tip of the tail.The female in the mating season, too, can become brighter.In order to give birth, Triton must be at least two years.
Newt feeds on insects, worms, small invertebrates.Mainly it lives and hunts on land, hiding during the day and going out to hunt at night, and in the winter hibernate.
crested newt newt
This is similar to an ordinary but larger in size.The length can be up to twenty centimeters.His skin crested newt is dotted with small warts.
The skin is painted in brown and orange belly.Throughout the body are scattered black spots.
crest during the breeding season gets blue to attract the female.Tellingly, the female during the mating season is not "dress up."
Like almost all reptiles, crested newt is nocturnal.During the day holed up in a shelter, and at night to obtain food.
banded newt
Represents a class amphibious detachment tailed, the family of these salamanders, newts genus.
banded newt length can vary from 15 to 17 centimeters.The tail is broad and slightly exceeds the length of the body.In the mating season the males appears elegant crest.On the back it resembles the fins of fish.
Coloring banded newt lead-olive and the whole surface of the body is dotted with spots.On the sides there are black and silver stripes.Belly color - yellow.
This amphibian lives throughout the Eurasia continent, likes to settle in the mountains and forests.Reservoirs chooses a rich aquatic vegetation.
Leaves pond in the summer and early autumn.He does not tolerate heat, may die because they do not go out to hunt.In winter hibernate.
Hunts banded newt to shellfish, invertebrates, spiders, worms and small newts.
Propagated newt in the water.Larva tailed amphibians out in about a month, and begins to feed on the second day.Prior to the full emergence of the newt larvae takes four months.
females live almost twice as long as the male - 21 years old.And a male - only 12 years old.
