Ainsworth's salamander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ainsworth's salamander |
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Ainsworth's salamander (Plethodon ainsworthi) was a type of salamander that is now extinct. It belonged to the family Plethodontidae, which are known as lungless salamanders. This salamander was only found in the United States, specifically in Jasper County, Mississippi.
Scientists only knew about it from a few specimens collected in 1964. These first specimens are called the type series. However, some scientists now think it might not have been a separate species at all. They believe it could have been a junior synonym of the Mississippi slimy salamander (Plethodon mississippi). This means it might have been the same species, just given a different name by mistake.
What it Looked Like
Ainsworth's salamander was a slender salamander with short legs. It had 16 grooves on its sides, called costal grooves. These grooves help salamanders move and breathe. When its front and back legs were pressed against its body, there were four to six folds between them.
Its belly lining, called the peritoneum, did not have any special color. It had many teeth on its upper jaw (40 premaxillary/maxillary teeth). It also had a large patch of teeth on the roof of its mouth, called palatine teeth. These teeth were about 12 teeth wide and 18 teeth long. It had two separate, curved rows of vomerine teeth, with eight to 10 teeth in each row.
Like all Plethodon species, this salamander had four toes on its front feet and five toes on its back feet. Its tail was round and did not get narrower at the base. Its tongue was attached at the front of its mouth.
How it Was Described
When preserved, the salamanders looked dark blackish-brown. They did not have any noticeable patterns on their skin. The belly lining also lacked any special color.
The main specimen, called the holotype, and another specimen, called the paratype, were collected in 1964. They were first thought to be Northern slimy salamanders (Plethodon glutinosus). In 1998, a scientist named James Lazell described them as a new species, Plethodon ainsworthi.
No other specimens of this salamander have ever been found. The exact place where they were collected is also unknown. The holotype specimen is damaged. The paratype was so badly damaged that it is now lost. Some scientists think that the unique features of this species might be due to how it was preserved for a long time. This suggests it might not have been a truly different species.
Where it Lived and Why it Disappeared
Ainsworth's salamander likely lived in temperate forests and near freshwater springs. These are places with moderate temperatures and natural water sources.
The reasons for its extinction are not fully known. However, it was likely due to habitat loss. This means the places where it lived were destroyed or changed. Interestingly, the Mississippi slimy salamander (Plethodon mississippi) still lives in the area where Ainsworth's salamander was believed to have been found.
See also
In Spanish: Plethodon ainsworthi para niños
