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Four-toed salamander

January 01, 1970

The four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) is a lungless salamander native to eastern North America. It is the only species of the monotypic genus Hemidactylium.

Four-toed salamander
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Plethodontidae
Subfamily: Hemidactyliinae
Genus: Hemidactylium
Tschudi, 1838
Species:
H. scutatum
Binomial name
Hemidactylium scutatum
Temminck & Schlegel in Von Siebold (1838)
Range of H. scutatum

Description edit

The four-toed salamander can be recognized by its white underbelly sprinkled with black dots. Its back varies from orange-brownish to red-brownish; its flanks are grayish. The body and the limbs are elongated. The snout is short, and the eyes are prominent. The tail color is usually brighter than the back, and you can observe a constriction at the body/tail junction. The posterior limbs have four toes (hence its name), a good identification criterion but hard to use in the field. This species rarely exceeds 10 cm (3.9 in) in length. In the breading season (late October to early December) males have enlarged premaxillary teeth and truncated squarish snouts, which are round in females. The juveniles show a tail shorter than the body.[2][3][4]

 
Four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum), Vermilion Coounty, Illinois (26 February 2009)

The four-toed salamander can be easily mistaken for the redback salamander (Plethodon cinereus) in the wild. The redback salamander's underbelly has more numerous black markings. Unlike the four-toed salamander, the redback salamander has no constriction at the tail base, and its posterior limbs show five digits.[2]: 241–242 

Reproduction edit

Mating occurs in terrestrial areas throughout the autumn months. In early spring the females nest on land, along the banks of small ponds. After the 4–6 week embryonic period, the larvae hatch and make their way to the adjacent pond. Four-toed salamanders undergo a relatively short aquatic larval period, when compared to other species of the same family, ranging between 3 and 6 weeks.[2][3][5]

Self defense edit

The four-toed salamander has three main forms of self-defense against predators. The first is that it purposely sheds off its tail to distract the enemy. When the tail comes off, it is still wiggling around. The enemy gets distracted, giving the salamander time to get away. The second form of defense is playing dead. When threatened, this salamander will have a short burst of violent thrashes and then stop dead in its tracks. It will stay frozen like this until it feels the threat is gone (Sass and Anderson, 2011). The third and final form of defense is curling up and putting its tail on its back, offering it in exchange for its life.

Nesting behavior edit

There are three methods of nesting that have been documented in the females of H. scutatum, which can fall into one of two categories: solitary or communal/joint nesting. Solitary nesters lay and brood only their eggs. Communal nesting is normally one female brooding the eggs of two or more, up to 14, females of the same species. In this method the females either lay their eggs and leave the nest, or lay their eggs and stay to brood their eggs as well as those of the deserting females. About one-third of the nests of a population are joint nests, while between 50% and 70% of females lay their eggs in joint nests each year.[6][7]

Oophagy has also been reported in H. scutatum, where one female would eat several eggs of another female before laying her eggs in a communal nest.[6][7]

Habitat edit

This species' favored habitats are sphagnum bogs, grassy areas surrounding beaver ponds, and deciduous or mixed forests rich with mosses. The four-toed salamander will use the sphagnum bogs during reproduction, but uses the forest habitat during the summer. It overwinters in terrestrial habitat, using old burrows or cavities created by rotting roots, below the freezing depth. It will frequently overwinter in groups, sometimes with other amphibians such as the red-backed salamander.[2][3][8]

In Canada, the four-toed salamander can be found in southern Ontario and Quebec, in Nova Scotia, and a single population was found in New Brunswick in 1983. In the United States, it can be found from Maine to Minnesota and as far as Alabama in the south. They have also been found in eastern Kentucky.[3][5][9][10][11][12]

The home range of the species is not known. It was believed that the different elements of its habitat (breeding, summer and overwintering) had to be within 100 m of each other, but recent observations might suggest this to be an underestimation.[2]

Diet edit

 
H. scutatum has a distinct basal constriction of the tail.

Four-toed salamanders feed mostly on small invertebrates, such as spiders, worms, ticks, springtails (collembola), ground beetles (Carabidae), and other insects. Larvae love small aquatic crustaceans.[2][3]

Predation edit

Larvae are eaten by other salamanders (adults and larvae), fish, and aquatic beetles. Shrews, snakes, and some ground beetles feast on this species. When it feels threatened, H. scutatum will use autotomy (drops its tail, still wiggling) to distract the attention of predators.[2][3]

Conservation status edit

 
Ventral surface is brilliant white, with scattered black spots.

Although it is rare, or at least rarely seen in Canada, Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) does not consider H. scutatum to be at risk.[13] It is also listed as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conversation of Nature (IUCN) due to the wide distribution and assumed large population.[1] But it is at risk in some provinces such as in Quebec (S3 Rare in the province; usually between 20 and 100 occurrences in the province; may have fewer occurrences, but with a large number of individuals in some populations; may be susceptible to large-scale disturbances).[14] Its status in the United States ranges from Threatened (Illinois), to Endangered (Minnesota), to Special Concern (Wisconsin, Ohio, and Missouri).[15]

References edit

  1. ^ a b IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2022). "Hemidactylium scutatum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T59285A193374453. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T59285A193374453.en. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Desroches, J.-F. & D. Rodrigues. (2004). Amphibiens et Reptiles du Québec et des Maritimes. Éd. Michel Quintin. Waterloo. 288 p. ISBN 2-89435-244-1
  3. ^ a b c d e f Gilhen, J. (1984). Amphibians and Reptiles of Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia Museum. Halifax. 162 p. ISBN 0-919680-25-9
  4. ^ Petranka, James W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington. xvi, 587 pp. (see pages 290-295) ISBN 1-56098-828-2
  5. ^ a b Gordon, D.M. (1979). New Localities for the Northern Spring Salamander and the Four-Toed Salamander in southwestern Québec. Canadian Field-Naturalist 93(2): 193-195.
  6. ^ a b Harris, R.N. & D.E. Gill. (1980). Communal Nesting, Brooding Behavior, and Embryonic Survival of the Four-Toed Salamander Hemidactylium scutatum. Herpetological 36(2):141-144.
  7. ^ a b Carreño, C.A. & R.N. Harris. (1998). Lack of Nest Defense Behavior and Attendance Patterns in a Joint Nesting Salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum (Caudata: Plethodontidae). Copeia (1):183-189.
  8. ^ Bider, J.R. & S. Matte. (1994). Atlas des Amphibiens et Reptiles du Québec. Société d’Histoire Naturelle de la Vallée du Saint-Laurent et Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Faune du Québec. Direction de la Faune et des Habitats. Québec. 106 p.
  9. ^ Behler, J. & F.W. King. (1996). Field Guide to North American Reptiles & Amphibians. National Audubon Society. Alfred A. Knopf. New-York. 743 p.
  10. ^ Desroches, J.-F. & B. Couture. (2002). Extension de l’Aire de Distribution Connue de la Salamandre à Quatre Doigts, (Hemidactylum scutatum), dans l’Est du Québec, et Notes sur l’Habitat. Canadian Field-Naturalist 116(2):317-318.
  11. ^ Woodley, S.J. & Rosen, M. (1988). First Record of the Four-Toed Salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum, in New Brunswick. Canadian Field-Naturalist 102(2): 7-12.
  12. ^ "Six slippery salamanders" (PDF). Files.dnr.state.mn.us. pp. 36–7. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  13. ^ . Archived from the original on 28 December 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  14. ^ . Archived from the original on 29 June 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  15. ^ Lannoo, M. (1998). Status and Conservation of Midwestern Amphibians. Iowa City, Iowa: University of Iowa Press.

External links edit

  •   Data related to Hemidactylium at Wikispecies
  •   Media related to Hemidactylium scutatum at Wikimedia Commons
  • Tree of Life: Hemidactylium scutatum
  • , Natural Resources Canada

January 01, 1970
four, toed, salamander, four, toed, salamander, hemidactylium, scutatum, lungless, salamander, native, eastern, north, america, only, species, monotypic, genus, hemidactylium, conservation, status, least, concern, iucn, scientific, classification, domain, euka. The four toed salamander Hemidactylium scutatum is a lungless salamander native to eastern North America It is the only species of the monotypic genus Hemidactylium Four toed salamander Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Amphibia Order Urodela Family Plethodontidae Subfamily Hemidactyliinae Genus HemidactyliumTschudi 1838 Species H scutatum Binomial name Hemidactylium scutatumTemminck amp Schlegel in Von Siebold 1838 Range of H scutatum Contents 1 Description 2 Reproduction 3 Self defense 4 Nesting behavior 5 Habitat 6 Diet 7 Predation 8 Conservation status 9 References 10 External linksDescription editThe four toed salamander can be recognized by its white underbelly sprinkled with black dots Its back varies from orange brownish to red brownish its flanks are grayish The body and the limbs are elongated The snout is short and the eyes are prominent The tail color is usually brighter than the back and you can observe a constriction at the body tail junction The posterior limbs have four toes hence its name a good identification criterion but hard to use in the field This species rarely exceeds 10 cm 3 9 in in length In the breading season late October to early December males have enlarged premaxillary teeth and truncated squarish snouts which are round in females The juveniles show a tail shorter than the body 2 3 4 nbsp Four toed salamander Hemidactylium scutatum Vermilion Coounty Illinois 26 February 2009 The four toed salamander can be easily mistaken for the redback salamander Plethodon cinereus in the wild The redback salamander s underbelly has more numerous black markings Unlike the four toed salamander the redback salamander has no constriction at the tail base and its posterior limbs show five digits 2 241 242 Reproduction editMating occurs in terrestrial areas throughout the autumn months In early spring the females nest on land along the banks of small ponds After the 4 6 week embryonic period the larvae hatch and make their way to the adjacent pond Four toed salamanders undergo a relatively short aquatic larval period when compared to other species of the same family ranging between 3 and 6 weeks 2 3 5 Self defense editThe four toed salamander has three main forms of self defense against predators The first is that it purposely sheds off its tail to distract the enemy When the tail comes off it is still wiggling around The enemy gets distracted giving the salamander time to get away The second form of defense is playing dead When threatened this salamander will have a short burst of violent thrashes and then stop dead in its tracks It will stay frozen like this until it feels the threat is gone Sass and Anderson 2011 The third and final form of defense is curling up and putting its tail on its back offering it in exchange for its life Nesting behavior editThere are three methods of nesting that have been documented in the females of H scutatum which can fall into one of two categories solitary or communal joint nesting Solitary nesters lay and brood only their eggs Communal nesting is normally one female brooding the eggs of two or more up to 14 females of the same species In this method the females either lay their eggs and leave the nest or lay their eggs and stay to brood their eggs as well as those of the deserting females About one third of the nests of a population are joint nests while between 50 and 70 of females lay their eggs in joint nests each year 6 7 Oophagy has also been reported in H scutatum where one female would eat several eggs of another female before laying her eggs in a communal nest 6 7 Habitat editThis species favored habitats are sphagnum bogs grassy areas surrounding beaver ponds and deciduous or mixed forests rich with mosses The four toed salamander will use the sphagnum bogs during reproduction but uses the forest habitat during the summer It overwinters in terrestrial habitat using old burrows or cavities created by rotting roots below the freezing depth It will frequently overwinter in groups sometimes with other amphibians such as the red backed salamander 2 3 8 In Canada the four toed salamander can be found in southern Ontario and Quebec in Nova Scotia and a single population was found in New Brunswick in 1983 In the United States it can be found from Maine to Minnesota and as far as Alabama in the south They have also been found in eastern Kentucky 3 5 9 10 11 12 The home range of the species is not known It was believed that the different elements of its habitat breeding summer and overwintering had to be within 100 m of each other but recent observations might suggest this to be an underestimation 2 Diet edit nbsp H scutatum has a distinct basal constriction of the tail Four toed salamanders feed mostly on small invertebrates such as spiders worms ticks springtails collembola ground beetles Carabidae and other insects Larvae love small aquatic crustaceans 2 3 Predation editLarvae are eaten by other salamanders adults and larvae fish and aquatic beetles Shrews snakes and some ground beetles feast on this species When it feels threatened H scutatum will use autotomy drops its tail still wiggling to distract the attention of predators 2 3 Conservation status edit nbsp Ventral surface is brilliant white with scattered black spots Although it is rare or at least rarely seen in Canada Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada COSEWIC does not consider H scutatum to be at risk 13 It is also listed as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conversation of Nature IUCN due to the wide distribution and assumed large population 1 But it is at risk in some provinces such as in Quebec S3 Rare in the province usually between 20 and 100 occurrences in the province may have fewer occurrences but with a large number of individuals in some populations may be susceptible to large scale disturbances 14 Its status in the United States ranges from Threatened Illinois to Endangered Minnesota to Special Concern Wisconsin Ohio and Missouri 15 References edit a b IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2022 Hemidactylium scutatum IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022 e T59285A193374453 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2022 1 RLTS T59285A193374453 en Retrieved 18 March 2024 a b c d e f g Desroches J F amp D Rodrigues 2004 Amphibiens et Reptiles du Quebec et des Maritimes Ed Michel Quintin Waterloo 288 p ISBN 2 89435 244 1 a b c d e f Gilhen J 1984 Amphibians and Reptiles of Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Museum Halifax 162 p ISBN 0 919680 25 9 Petranka James W 1998 Salamanders of the United States and Canada Smithsonian Institution Press Washington xvi 587 pp see pages 290 295 ISBN 1 56098 828 2 a b Gordon D M 1979 New Localities for the Northern Spring Salamander and the Four Toed Salamander in southwestern Quebec Canadian Field Naturalist 93 2 193 195 a b Harris R N amp D E Gill 1980 Communal Nesting Brooding Behavior and Embryonic Survival of the Four Toed Salamander Hemidactylium scutatum Herpetological 36 2 141 144 a b Carreno C A amp R N Harris 1998 Lack of Nest Defense Behavior and Attendance Patterns in a Joint Nesting Salamander Hemidactylium scutatum Caudata Plethodontidae Copeia 1 183 189 Bider J R amp S Matte 1994 Atlas des Amphibiens et Reptiles du Quebec Societe d Histoire Naturelle de la Vallee du Saint Laurent et Ministere de l Environnement et de la Faune du Quebec Direction de la Faune et des Habitats Quebec 106 p Behler J amp F W King 1996 Field Guide to North American Reptiles amp Amphibians National Audubon Society Alfred A Knopf New York 743 p Desroches J F amp B Couture 2002 Extension de l Aire de Distribution Connue de la Salamandre a Quatre Doigts Hemidactylum scutatum dans l Est du Quebec et Notes sur l Habitat Canadian Field Naturalist 116 2 317 318 Woodley S J amp Rosen M 1988 First Record of the Four Toed Salamander Hemidactylium scutatum in New Brunswick Canadian Field Naturalist 102 2 7 12 Six slippery salamanders PDF Files dnr state mn us pp 36 7 Retrieved 20 March 2022 COSEWIC 2008 Archived from the original on 28 December 2012 Retrieved 11 April 2008 M N R F Q 2008 Archived from the original on 29 June 2008 Retrieved 11 April 2008 Lannoo M 1998 Status and Conservation of Midwestern Amphibians Iowa City Iowa University of Iowa Press External links edit nbsp Data related to Hemidactylium at Wikispecies nbsp Media related to Hemidactylium scutatum at Wikimedia Commons Tree of Life Hemidactylium scutatum Four toed Salamander Plethodon cinereus Natural Resources Canada Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Four toed salamander amp oldid 1214308739, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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