Vertebrate Zoology: A Study Guide - T. A. Dauda 2014

Metazoa
Fishes
Class Amphibia — Order Urodela (Caudata)

The order of tailed amphibians comprises about 280 species characterized by an elongated, cylindrical body and a long tail. They move by walking or crawling. Fertilization is internal.

Among the tailed amphibians found in our country are Representatives of the salamander family. The small smooth newt and the larger great crested newt occur almost everywhere. In the former, males are spotted, while in the latter, they are black with an orange belly. Newts inhabit small stagnant or slow-flowing Water bodies with well-developed vegetation. At the end of summer, they leave the water and take shelter under tree trunks, beneath stones, or in soil crevices.

Newts spend the winter in leaf litter, under tree stumps, and in similar shelters. In spring, they migrate to water bodies. Newts feed on animal matter.

The fire salamander inhabits the Carpathians and the Caucasus. It features a black coloration with fiery orange or yellow spots. By day, it hides under tree roots or in burrows, remaining active at night. Following rain, the salamander may also emerge from its shelter during the day. Fertilization most frequently occurs on land, although instances of aquatic fertilization are also known. Nevertheless, metamorphosis invariably concludes in an aquatic environment.

The majority of tailed amphibian species inhabit the temperate zone of the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Some forms, such as the Japanese giant salamander, reach lengths of up to 1.5 m.