Proteidae (see family information on Tree of Life site)
Aquatic paedomorphic salamanders with filamentous large, red, external gills and laterally compressed tail fins. They are distributed in Europe (Proteus, up to 200 mm) and North America (Necturus, up to 400 mm). One species of Proteus and five species of Necturus are currently recognized. The Olm, or European blind cave salamander, Proteus anguinus, is perhaps the rarest and strangest of all extant salamanders in museum collections. It has reduced eyes, pale/translucent skin, and lives in caves. Little information is available on the reproductive biology of these salamanders, although P. anguinus seems to be capable of some degree of viviparity through the birth of advanced young. Some morphological characters for this group are: 1) maxillae, prefrontals, septomaxillae, ypsiloid cartilage, and nasals absent; 2) teeth on splenial and pterygoid; 3) two pairs of larval gill slits; 4) external gills present; 5) reduction in number of toes; 6) 19 pairs of chromosomes.
Proteus anguinus
Photo by Jim McGuire
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Genus Necturus (5 species)
Necturus alabamensis species account no photos range maps no sounds Necturus beyeri species account photos range maps no sounds Necturus lewisi species account no photos range maps no sounds Necturus maculosus species account photos range maps no sounds Necturus punctatus species account photos range maps no sounds
Genus Proteus (1 species)
Proteus anguinus species account photos range maps no sounds
Citation: AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. 2010. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Available: http://amphibiaweb.org/. (Accessed: 2010).
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