SALAMANDER, a genus of reptiles, order Batrachia, allied to the frog, from which it differs in having an elongated body terminated by a tail, and four feet of equal length. There are no gills in the adult animal. Salamanders are en dowed with an astonishing power of reproduction; and, when mutilated, their limbs, tail, and even their eyes, are re stored at the end of two or three or six months.
The common salamander of Europe has been celebrated from antiquity for its supposed power of braving fire, but this is a fable.
It would seem that the United States produce a greater variety of salamanders than any other part of the globe. We shall particularize the following, among the land salamanders: S. subviolacea, a large stout species, blackish, with two rows of large, round, whitish spots on the back. S. fasciata; green; less than the preceding; blackish, with transverse blu ish-white bands on the back; found from New Jersey to South Carolina, but rare. S. glutinosa; green; a more slender spe cies, with the tail nearly twice the length of the body; blackish, sprinkled on the upper parts of the body with white specks. It is found in most parts of the United States, and as far N. as lat. 43°. S. longicauda; green; whitish, with nu merous black specks. It is found in the
Atlantic States, but is more frequently met with in the limestone caves of the West. S. bilineata, green; a small slen der species; above brown, beneath yellow, with two or sometimes three indistinct black lines. It inhabits New England and the Middle States. S. cirrigera, green; remarkable for having two short, fleshy cirri on the snout. It was found in the vicinity of New Orleans. S. ery thronota (the most common species) ; blackish, with a broad red stripe on the back. The young are destitute of the red stripe. S. symmetrica (Harlan) ; reddish, with a row of bright orange ocellated spots on each side; length about three inches. The skin of this animal is rough, and apparently destitute of the mucous secretion common to the other species.
Among the aquatic salamanders we shall particularize: S. dorsalis (Harlan) ; resembling the preceding in size and the general distribution of the colors; inhab its South Carolina. S. maculata; green, whitish, with numerous round specks of a reddish brown color. S. ingens; green; by far the largest species hitherto known; nearly a foot in length. It was discovered in the vicinity of New Orleans.