Newts and Salamanders of Europe 085661100X, 9780856611001

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NEWTS AND SALAMANDERS ~ OF EUROPE Richard A. Griffiths

—s

Newts and Salamanders of Europe

For

Rene and Eric

. where the newts beckon their follower must go.

Victor Twitty Of Scientists and Salamanders

Newts and Salamanders

of Europe Richard Griffiths

Illustrated by Bas Teunts, Paul Benson and Samantha Elmhurst

ACADEMIC

PRESS

Harcourt Brace & Company, Publishers London, San Diego, New York, Boston, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto

ACADEMIC PRESS LIMITED 24-28 Oval Road LONDON NW 1 7DX

U.S. Edition Published by ACADEMIC PRESS INC. San Diego, CA 92101 This book is printed on acid free paper Copyright © 1996 ACADEMIC PRESS LIMITED Chapter opening figures © 1995 S.EM. Teunis Figures 1.4, 2.8, 2.10, 4.3, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 & 5.5 © 1995 PA. Benson Figures 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, 3.2 & 7.1 © 1995 SamanthaJ. Elmhurst

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 0-12-303955-X

Typeset by Phoenix Photosetting, Chatham, Kent Printed in Great Britain at the University Printing House, Cambridge

Contents

List of Colour Plates Preface

1K x1

CHAPTER | Newt or Salamander? Newts and salamanders in folklore Distribution of newts and salamanders The amphibian life-style Classification of newts and salamanders

CHAPTER 2 Life on Land and in Water The senses Internal structure and function Relations with the environment Feeding Defence

CHAPTER 3 Biogeography and Evolution The invasion ofland Ancient amphibians The rise ofthe salamanders Speciation and glactations Relationships between the living tailed amphibians

33

CHAPTER 4 Reproduction

48

Reproductive cycles Hibernation, aestivation and environmental cues for breeding Orientation and breeding migrations

vi

Contents

Reproductive behaviour Egg-laying or live-bearing? Egg deposition

CHAPTER 5 Eee and Larval Development Egg development

70

Larval development

Feeding Predators Competitors

Habitat selection Activity patterns

Neoteny and paedomorphosis Metamorphosis

CHAPTER 6 Population and Community Ecology

84

Complex life cycles

Population fluctuations Fluctuations in larval survival Longevity

Colonization Sex ratio

Coexistence ofspecies Hybridisation Population regulation

CHAPTER 7 Conservation

104

Conservation ofspecies or habitats? Threats to newts and salamanders Conservation measures

Legislation Conclusion

CHAPTER 8 Species Accounts Family: Plethodontidae

123

Contents

Vil

Family: Salamandridae Family: Proteidae Family: Hynobiidae Appendix Herpetological Organisations References Index The colour plate section can be found between pages 52 and 53.

167 169 181

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List of Colour Plates

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Spezia Cave Salamander, Hydromantes ambrosii. Photo F. Andreone. North-west Italian Cave Salamander, Hydromantes strinatii. Photo F. Andreone. Italian Cave Salamander, Hydromantes italicus. Photo R. Griffiths. Sardinian Cave Salamander, Hydromantes genei. Photo F. Andreone. SE Sardinian Cave Salamander, Hydromantes imperialis. Photo F. Andreone.

Supramonte Cave Salamander, Hydromantes supramontis. Photo T. Mutz. . Monte Albo Cave Salamander, Hydromantes flavus. Photo H. Strijbosch. . Bosca’s Newt, Triturus boscai. Photo R. Griffiths. . Palmate Newt, Triturus helveticus. Photos R. Griffiths. KWH SOMNDAWN . Italian Newt, Triturus italicus. Photos R. Griffiths and E Andreone. . Carpathian Newt, Triturus montandoni. Photos R. Griffiths. . Smooth Newt, Triturus vulgaris. Photos A. Davies.

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. Alpine Newt, Triturus alpestris. Photo M. Sparreboom. . Banded Newt, 7riturus vittatus. Photos R. Griffiths. . Alpine Crested Newt, Triturus carnifex. Photos F. Andreone.

. Northern Crested Newt, Triturus cristatus. Photos R. Griffiths. . Danube Crested Newt, Triturus dobrogicus. Photos M. Sparreboom. . Southern Crested Newt, 7riturus karelinii. Photos M. Sparreboom.

. Marbled Newt, Triturus marmoratus. Photos M. Sparreboom. . Pyrenean Brook Salamander, Euproctus asper. Photo M. Garcia-Paris.

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. . . .

Corsican Brook Salamander, Euproctus montanus. Photo M. Vences. Sardinian Brook Salamander, Euproctus platycephalus. Photo H. Strijbosch. Spanish Ribbed Salamander, Pleurodeles waltl. Photo M. Garcia-Paris. Spectacled Salamander, Salamandrina terdigitata. Photos F. Andreone and R. Griffiths. . Alpine Salamander, Salamandra atra. Photos F. Andreone. . Lanza’s Alpine Salamander, Salamandra lanzai. Photo M. Vences. . Fire Salamander, Salamandra salamandra. Photo R. Griffiths. . Caucasian Salamander, Mertensiella caucasica. Photo R. Griffiths. . Luschan’s Salamander, Mertensiella luschani. Photo M. Franzen. . Golden-striped Salamander, Chioglossa lusitanica. Photo M. Vences. . Blind Cave Salamander, Proteus anguinus. Photo C. Mlinar. . Siberian Salamander, Salamandrella keyserlingii. Photo B. Thiesmeier. bo WNW NW NH HNN WWW ix

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