HabitatHabitat

Tropical lowlandsTropical lowlands Frequently found on wet leavesFrequently found on wet leaves Plants that have waxy leavesPlants that have waxy leaves

Arboreal- “wood or tree climbing salamanders Arboreal- “wood or tree climbing salamanders characterized by palmate, fully webbed feet.”characterized by palmate, fully webbed feet.”

Arboreality is rare among salamandersArboreality is rare among salamanders

feet are seen as adhesive structures feet are seen as adhesive structures enabling the salamanders to climb enabling the salamanders to climb smooth surfacessmooth surfaces

AdaptationAdaptation

Adaption of arboreal found to be used for Adaption of arboreal found to be used for increasing the sticky ability of the animals increasing the sticky ability of the animals to the wet and waxy leaves that to the wet and waxy leaves that constitute the habitats of these constitute the habitats of these organismsorganisms

Occurs by means of suctionOccurs by means of suction

PaedomorphosisPaedomorphosis

The feet of the arboreal salamander The feet of the arboreal salamander results from Paedomorphis: retention by results from Paedomorphis: retention by an organism of juvenile into later life…an organism of juvenile into later life…

In this case it appears that the In this case it appears that the salamander has maintained its foot to salamander has maintained its foot to stay in embryonic formstay in embryonic form

PaedomophosisPaedomophosis

Leads to a decrease in digits, thus a Leads to a decrease in digits, thus a decrease in the elaboration of the decrease in the elaboration of the epidermisepidermis

The epidermis stays smoothThe epidermis stays smooth

Webbed feetWebbed feet

cntd.’cntd.’

Webbed feet lead to reduced digits Webbed feet lead to reduced digits The outer epidermis is poorly organized The outer epidermis is poorly organized

squamous epithelium yet very smoothsquamous epithelium yet very smooth Glands are abundant, specifically Glands are abundant, specifically

mucous glands (sm. cuboidal cells)mucous glands (sm. cuboidal cells) The density of mucous pores increase The density of mucous pores increase

dramatically in webbed feetdramatically in webbed feet

……

Feet are concave making a suction cupFeet are concave making a suction cup Reduction of cell surface sculpturing… a Reduction of cell surface sculpturing… a

characteristic of a morphological changecharacteristic of a morphological change

Waxy and wet leavesWaxy and wet leaves

ConclusionConclusion

Adaptations of the salamander:Adaptations of the salamander: Smooth epithelium instead of roughSmooth epithelium instead of rough Reduction of surface sculpturesReduction of surface sculptures Increased number of mucosal glandsIncreased number of mucosal glands Loss of digits.. to increase surface areaLoss of digits.. to increase surface area

Skin Morphology in Skin Morphology in Neotropical Neotropical SalamandersSalamanders