Asiatic Salamander
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The Asiatic Salamanders (Family Hynobiidae) are rather primitive salamanders spread all over Asia. They are closely related with the Giant Salamanders (Family Cryptobranchidae), with which they form the suborder Cryptobranchoidea. According to Hasumi (2002), "about half of hynobiids are unique to Japan."
Hynobiid salamanders practice external fertilization, or spawning. They are not known to exercise any form of parental care, unlike their cryptobranchid relatives. And unlike other salamander families which reproduce internally, male hynobiids focus on egg sacs rather than females during breeding (Hasumi, 2002).
The following genera make up the Family Hynobiidae:
- Batrachuperus - 9 species
- Hynobius - 26 species
- Liua - 1 species
- Onychodactylus - 2 species
- Pachyhynobius - 1 species
- Protohynobius - 1 species
- Pseudohynobius - 1 species
- Ranodon - 1 species
- Salamandrella - 1 species
References
Hasumi, M. (2002). About hynobiids. Retrieved May 8, 2005 from [1] (http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~hasumi/doc1/hyno_e.html).
External links
- AmphibiaWeb: Hynobiidae (http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/aw/lists/Hynobiidae.shtml)nl:Aziatische salamanders