User:Cececurran/sandbox

Proteidae, Sirenidae, and Cryptobranchidae are polyphyletic meaning there are no shared common ancestors among all three taxa. Proteidae and Cryptobranchidae are more recently evolved than Sirenidae. Proteidae has two genera, Necturus and Proteus, with 5 and 1 species. Proteus anguinus, also known as an Olm, is a subterranean freshwater salamander which is found in Italy, southern Croatia, and parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Olms have small, thin extremities, front legs have three toes and the rear have two, flattened tail that is much shorter than the trunk, and an elongated head with a rounded snout. Their eyes are poorly developed, and they were originally thought to display albinism, but dark pigmentation can be induced when exposed to light. The average length is between 23-25 cm and males are slightly smaller than females. Mating behavior is interesting, when female enters the male’s established territory, he will fan his tail in the direction of the female’s head. The male touches the female’s cloaca with his snout and the female does the same. Then the male deposits a spermatophore which the female can take up with her cloaca. Females can lay eggs for up to 25 days, laying a total of up to 70 eggs. Eggs are guarded by females and the warmer the temperature, the faster the eggs develop. Olms is thought to be the longest-lived amphibian species with a predicted maximum life span of of over a century. The conservation status of Olms is vulnerable meaning this taxon is considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. Necturus maculosus, also known as mudpuppies, are found in Canada and the United States. Mudpuppies have laterally compressed tails, are 20-49cm in length, have bushy external gills, and their color varies from rusty brown to gray or black with bluish black spots or blotches. The conservation status of mudpuppies is of least concern, as they are an abundant species. Sirenidae has two genera, psuedobranchus and Siren, each with two species. Also known as sirens, these salamanders can be found in southeastern United States, west to Oklahoma and Texas through northeastern Mexico, and north to Illinois and Indiana. Sirens are elongated, eel-like aquatic salamanders with external gills. In this particular salamander, the pelvic girdle and hind limbs are absent with small forelimbs. Adults are paedomorphic, meaning they retain juvenile characteristics such as external gills, suction feeding, and a lateral line system. The conservation status of Sirens is of least concern meaning there are widespread and abundant taxa. Cryptobranchidae has two genera, Andrias and Cryptobranchus, with 2 and 1 species. Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, also known as Hellbenders, can be found in the United States in several different states. These salamanders are the largest salamander in north America. Hellbenders are excessively slimy which is noxious to many predators, eyes are tiny and lidless, skin is loose and wrinkled, and they lack external gills. They may reach the age of 20-30 years in the wild, but their conservation status is near threatened. This means they are not quite meeting the criteria for critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable but is likely to soon.