SBI3U1 ABBEY PARK HIGH SCHOOL NAME: ___________________________

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 Use the following dichotomous key to correctly identify the species of salamanders designated in
the pictures. Place the name of the salamander beside the number on the answer sheet.

Classification key for Certain Salamanders

1. a. Hind limbs absent Siren intermedia, siren

b. Hind limbs present. Go to 2
2. a. External gills present in adults Necturus maculosus, mud puppy
b. External gills absent in adults Go to 3
3. a. Large size (over 7 cm long – do not measure Go to 4
tail)
b. Small size (under 7 cm long – do not Go to 5
measure tail )
4. a. Body background black, large white spots Ambystoma tigrinum, tiger salamander
A irregular in size and shape completely
covering body and tail
b Body background black, small round white Ambystoma maculatum, spotted
spots in a row along each side from eye to tip salamander
of tail
5. a. Body background black with white spots Go to 6
 b. Body background light colour with Go to 7
dark spots and/or lines on body
6. a. Small white spots on a black background in a Ambystoma jeffersonianum Jefferson
row along each side from head to tip of tail sal.
b. Small white spots scattered throughout a Plethodon glutinosus, slimy salamander
black background from head to tip of tail
7. a. Large irregular black spots on a light Ambystoma opacum, marbled
background extending from head to tip of tail salamander
b. No large irregular black spots on a light Go to 8
background
8. a. Round spots scattered along back and sides Triturus viridescens, newt
of body, tail flattened like a tadpole
b. Without round spots and tail not flattened Go to 9
like a tadpole
9. a. Two dark lines bordering a broad light mid Eurycea bislineata, two-lined
dorsal stripe with a narrow median dark line salamander
extending from the head onto the tail
b. Without two dark lines running the length of Go to 10
the body
10. a. A light stripe running the length of the body Plethodon cineeus, red-blacked
and bordered by dark pigment extending salamander
downward on the sides
b. A light stripe extending the length of the Hemidactylium scutatum four-toed
body & tail, a marked narrowing at the end salamander
of the tail

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 ANSWERS

NUMBER NAME
1 Slimy Plethodon glutinosus
2 Jef. Ambystoma jeffersonianum
3 Spotted Ambystoma maculatum
4 Newt Triturus viridescens
5 Two-lined Eurycea bislineata
6 Mud puppy Necturus maculosus
7 Tiger Ambystoma tigrinum
8 Red-blacked Plethodon cineeus
9 Four-toed Hemidactylium scutatum
10 Siren Siren intermedia
11 Marbled Ambystoma opacum

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