Northern banana salamander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northern banana salamander |
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The northern banana salamander (Bolitoglossa rufescens) is a small type of salamander. It is also called the common dwarf salamander or rufescent salamander. These amazing creatures belong to a group called Plethodontidae. This means they are "lungless salamanders."
You can find them in parts of Central America. They live on the Atlantic side of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and northern Honduras. However, it can be tricky to know their exact range. This is because some records might be about other similar salamander species.
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About the Northern Banana Salamander
Northern banana salamanders are small. They live on land and also in trees. Their body length, from snout to vent (where their tail starts), is about 35 to 36 millimeters. Their total length, including their tail, is about 65 to 70 millimeters.
Where Does It Live?
These salamanders live in warm, wet places. This includes tropical and subtropical lowland rainforests. They also live in mountain areas. You might even find them in fruit farms, like citrus or banana plantations. They also live in pine tree farms.
They are often found in plants called bromeliads. These plants grow on trees in wet forests.
What Does It Look Like?
The northern banana salamander is usually pale brown or tan on its back. Some lighter ones might have stripes or spots on their back. Their belly is often gray or lighter than their back. Sometimes, their whole body is one color.
A dark brown stripe often runs from behind their eyes. This stripe can go halfway down their body or even further. These salamanders are quite small. Other salamanders in the Bolitoglossa group, like the O'Donnell's salamander, are much longer.
The northern banana salamander has a strong body. It has 11 grooves running along its sides between its legs. It also has 3 more grooves between its limbs. These grooves help the salamander move water. They also help it breathe and control its body temperature.
They have webbed fingers and toes. They have 4 fingers on their front feet and 5 toes on their back feet. Their snout, which is like their nose, is flat and sticks out a little.
How Does It Breathe?
These salamanders are special because they don't have lungs! They are called "lungless salamanders." Instead, they breathe entirely through their skin. They also breathe through the lining of their mouth.
What Do Northern Banana Salamanders Eat?
Salamanders mostly eat small bugs. They find these bugs on the forest floor. What they eat depends on their size and where they live.
Since Bolitoglossa rufescens are small and live mostly in trees, their diet is special. Research shows they eat a lot of ants. They also eat beetles, weevils, springtails, and spiders.
How Do They Protect Themselves?
Snakes are a big danger to salamanders. Snakes find their prey by flicking their tongue in the air. They also find prey by touching them or the ground.
Studies show that northern banana salamanders react strongly to attacks on their head. If a predator attacks their head, they often lift their tail. Sometimes they lift and wiggle their tail. This behavior helps them try to escape.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Northern banana salamanders reproduce every two years. After a male and female find each other, the male uses a special gland. This gland helps him stimulate the female. Then, the female picks up egg packets from the ground.
The eggs are laid in moist places on land. On average, a female lays about 13 or 14 eggs. Each egg is about 1.9 millimeters wide. The eggs develop completely on land. The young salamanders hatch directly from the eggs. They look like tiny versions of the adults. There is not much difference in appearance between male and female northern banana salamanders.
