List of Colour Plates ix Preface xi CHAPTER 1: Newt or Salamander? 1 Newts and salamanders in folklore Distribution of newts and salamanders The amphibian life-style Classification of newts and salamanders CHAPTER 2: Life on Land and in Water 11 The senses Internal structure and function Relations with the environment Feeding Defence CHAPTER 3: Biogeography and Evolution 33 The invasion of land Ancient amphibians The rise of the salamanders Speciation and glaciations Relationships between the living tailed amphibians CHAPTER 4: Reproduction 48 Reproductive cycles Hibernation, aestivation and environmental cues for breeding Orientation and breeding migrations Reproductive behaviour Egg-laying or live-bearing? Egg deposition CHAPTER 5: Egg and Larval Development 70 Egg development Larval development Feeding Predators Competitors Habitat selection Activity patterns Neoteny and paedomorphosis Metamorphosis CHAPTER 6: Population and Community Ecology 84 Complex life cycles Population fluctuations Fluctuations in larval survival Longevity Colonization Sex ratio Coexistence of species Hybridisation Population regulation CHAPTER 7: Conservation 104 Conservation of species or habitats? Threats to newts and salamanders Conservation measures Legislation Conclusion CHAPTER 8: Species Accounts 123 Family: Plethodontidae Fammily:: Salamandridae Fammily: Proteidae Fammily: Hynobiidae Appendix Herpetological Organisations 167 ~References 169 Index 181 Colour plate section can be found between pages 52 and 53.
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Whiteman et al. (1997) studied this question.