Anderson cross-toothed newt
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Anderson cross-toothed newt ( Ambystoma andersoni ) |
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| Krebs & Brandon , 1984 |
The Anderson's Salamander ( Ambystoma andersoni ) is a diurnal Mexican salamander from the family of cross-tooth newts (Ambystomatidae), which usually only in neotener occurs, larvae similar form.
description
The adult salamander reaches a length of 18 centimeters. It has a massive body, a slightly flattened head and a relatively short tail with a fairly high swimming seam. Its coloring is a pattern with black spots, which are often connected to one another, and a bright reddish-brown basic color. There are bright red threads on the outer gill tufts.
The salamanders are described as neoten in their natural habitat. They live aquatic and usually spend their entire life there. Morphologically, they seem to be distantly related to the Dumerils cross-toothed newt ( Ambystoma dumerilii ) from Lake Pátzcuaro. Genetically, it is a sister species of the axolotl ( Ambystoma mexicanum ) (Samuels et al. 2005). In contrast to their relatives, they have webbed fingers and only the end links protrude.
Like all neotic Ambystoma species, A. andersoni usually retains the larval characteristics throughout its life and reproduces in the larval stage. However, this is probably only true in its natural habitat. So far, no terrestrial salamanders that have gone through metamorphosis have been found there. Metamorphosis occasionally occurs in aquarists, although the cause is not yet known.
Occurrence
The Anderson cross-toothed newt is endemic to the Laguna en Zacapú as well as a small tributary. Lago Zacapú (19 ° 50'N 101 ° 47'W) is a small lake near Zacapú.
The temperatures are between a maximum of 25 ° C and a minimum of 8 ° C. The size of the lake is 39.96 ha, the depth is not exactly known. The water is boggy, opaque and gray in color. The lake is located at an elevation of 1990 meters above sea level within Mesa Central, part of Mexico, in an area that is home to many neotene Ambystoma species. The temperature of the lake is moderate, with a low salinity. It is fed from a single tributary that flows from Lake Patzcuaro to Lake Zacapú.
Reproduction
The Anderson transverse tooth newt is sexually mature at around 8 to 15 months. In the natural habitat, the mating season is in spring. The male's courtship is a type of dance, while the erect tail often makes rapid, winding movements, the body is bent. One or more spermatophore (s) are then deposited on the floor. The female takes them into her cesspool . Two days after mating, and 8 to 24 hours after receiving the Spermatophoren follows the spawning . The eggs are preferably laid on the leaves of aquatic plants. A clutch consists of around 80 to 300 eggs. The young hatch after approx. 9 to 15 days, depending on the temperature, and then feed on their yolk supply for another two days before they go in search of food on their own. This type of reproduction is called pedogenesis.
nutrition
The Anderson cross-toothed newt feeds on crustaceans , other aquatic invertebrates, fish and spawns as well as juveniles of amphibians. The offspring of conspecifics is also on their menu. Their wide, large mouth enables them to catch and devour surprisingly large prey.
Species protection
Since the Anderson cross-toothed newt has a very limited range, the animals are extremely threatened in the wild, especially since they, like the axolotl, are occasionally eaten by the locals. The IUCN classifies Ambystoma andersoni as "critically endangered" (threatened with extinction).
literature
- Hans-Joachim Herrmann: Amphibians in the aquarium. - Eugen Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart, 1994. ISBN 3800172879
Individual evidence
- ↑ Amy K. Samuels, David W. Weisrock, Jeramiah J. Smith, Katherine J. France, John A. Walker, Srikrishna Putta & S. Randal Voss: Transcriptional and phylogenetic analysis of five complete ambystomatid salamander mitochondrial genomes , University of Kentucky, Department of Biology, Lexington, KY 40506, USA. 2005
Web links
- Edge of Existence - Anderson's Salamander
- Ambystoma andersoni in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2006. Posted by: Global Amphibian Assessment Coordinating Team, 2006. Retrieved on 22 the Jan 2007.