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Euproctus montanus, Corsican Brook Salamander

Euproctus platycephalus, Sardinian Brook Salamander

Scientific Name

Common Name

Distribution

Size

Notes

Euproctus

E. montanus

Corsican Brook Salamander

Corsica

4-5"

Similar in body form to E. platycephalus but the snout protrudes less and the head appears more domed. The tail is only laterally compressed along the last third of its length and the male spur on the hind leg is less pronounced. Description: fronto-squamosal arch ligamentous; frontals with distinct orbital processes. Palatine teeth in two series, parallel, and in contact in their anterior half, divergent behind, thus forming a inverted Y-shaped figure; these series commencing on a line with the choanae. Tongue rather large, subcircular, attached along the median line, slightly free behind, protractile. Head rather large, depressed, longer than broad, its length contained thrice (♂) or thrice and a half (♀) in the length of the body; the greatest width of head at posterior corners of eyes; snout rounded; no labial lobes. Body rounded; no dorsal crest. Limbs moderate; fingers and toes short, depressed; tarsal and carpal tubercles indistinct; male with a much developed, rounded dilatation of the fibulum. Tail a little shorter than head and body, compressed, ending in a point. Vent generally conical, directed backwards, with circular opening; sometimes (♀) a longitudinal slit, the borders of which are scarcely swollen. Skin finely tubercular above, smooth beneath; sides of head with distinct pores on each side of the neck a large well-defined parotoid gland; no gular fold. Coloration: brown, immaculate, or variegated with darker and lighter above and speckled with whitish beneath; sometimes a light vertebral line. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

E. platycephalus

Sardinian Brook Salamander, Flat-Headed Salamander

Sardinia

5-6"

Slender body with extremely flattened head: nose is protruding and reminiscent of that of a pike. Tail is laterally compressed. Males have a spur-like extension on the hind leg. Description: fronto-squamosal arch bony. Palatine teeth in two straight series, diverging behind, forming an inverted Y- or V-shaped figure; these series commencing on a line with the choanae. Tongue small, subelliptical, the sides free. Head much depressed, much longer than broad, its length contained about thrice in the length of the body the greatest width at angles of jaws; snout semielliptical; labial lobes well developed. Body rounded, crestless. Limbs moderate; fingers and toes rather elongate, slender, free; in the male the fibulum sends forth a pointed, spur-like process, resembling a rudimentary toe; no distinct carpal or tarsal tubercles. Tail about as long as head and body, keeled above and beneath, with a small upper and lower crest, ending in an obtuse point. Cloaca, in both sexes, conical, the opening circular and turned backwards; that of the male more swollen at the base. Skin smooth or with small tubercles above; no gular fold. Coloration: brown above, variegated with darker; lower surfaces yellowish, spotted with blackish. [SOURCE: Boulenger]