Proteidae (see family information on Tree of Life site)
6 species in 2 genera
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
(Click for details)
Genus Necturus (5 species)
Necturus alabamensis English account non-English account photos no sound/video Necturus beyeri English account non-English account photos no sound/video Necturus lewisi English account non-English account no photos no sound/video Necturus maculosus English account non-English account photos no sound/video Necturus punctatus English account non-English account photos no sound/video
Genus Proteus (1 species)
Proteus anguinus English account non-English account photos no sound/video
Citation: AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. 2012. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Available: http://amphibiaweb.org/. (Accessed: 2012).
AmphibiaWeb's policy on data use.