Chapter 25: Amphibians, Order: Urodela (Caudata)

Question 1

What organisms are in this group?

Answer 1

• Salamanders

Question 2

What is special about salamanders?

Answer 2

• they are sensitive indicators of environmental quality

L> sensitive to degraded stream habitats; their health is often directly linked to the health of their habitat

Question 3

Their eggs do not have a protective shell, what does this mean in terms of sensitivity to the environment?

Answer 3

• vulnerable to chemical pollutants, ultraviolet radiation and other factors that disrupt cell division

Question 4

After hatching what characteristics of salamanders indicate sensitivity to their environment?

Answer 4

• permeable skin; gases and water simply enter or leave via skin, and provides no protection from toxins …they are environmental sponges

Question 5

What are causing a worldwide decline in amphibians?(4)

Answer 5

• habitat loss
• acid rain
• ultraviolet radiation
• invasive species

Question 6

What is the purpose of the bright colours and conspicuous markings on salamanders skin?

Answer 6

• poison producing skin glands that are poisonous to the touch
• newts have to be swallowed for the predator to be poisoned
• California slender’s have ribs that protrude their body and release toxins

Question 7

Paedomorphosis?

Answer 7

• when species reach sexual maturity while retaining gills, aquatic life style and other larval characteristics
  ex: mud puppy