| Asiatic Salamanders | |
|---|---|
| Hida Salamander | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Lissamphibia |
| Order: | Caudata |
| Suborder: | Cryptobranchoidea |
| Family: | Hynobiidae |
| Genera | |
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Batrachuperus |
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The Asiatic Salamanders (Family Hynobiidae) are primitive salamanders found all over Asia, and in European Russia. They are closely related to the Giant Salamanders (Family Cryptobranchidae), with which they form the suborder Cryptobranchoidea. About half of hynobiids are unique to Japan (Hasumi 2002).
Hynobiid salamanders practice external fertilization, or spawning. And, unlike other salamander families which reproduce internally, male hynobiids focus on egg sacs rather than females during breeding (Hasumi, 2002). The female lays two egg sacs at a time, each containing up to seventy eggs. Parental care is common.[1]
A few species have very reduced lungs, or no lungs at all. The tadpole can sometimes have reduced external gills if they live in cold and very oxygen rich water.
Currently, 54 species are known. The following genera make up the Family Hynobiidae:
Subfamily Hynobiinae
Subfamily Protohynobiinae
Hasumi, M. (2002). About hynobiids. Retrieved May 8, 2005 from [1].
Data related to Hynobiidae at Wikispecies
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