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English
name:
Long-tailed salamander
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Description:
The salamander lon-tailed is an elegant slim animal with
a very long body. Its previous and later extremities, with four and five
fingers respectively, are relatively short. Its tail, when it is not
regenerated, is specially long, reaching lengths that duplicate to the
length of head and body, being relatively longer in greater animals. The
head is depressed and rounded in the front; the eyes are large and
protuberant, located in a lateral position. Its skin is smooth and
brilliant. Its total length can reach 156 mm in males and 164 mm in
females, whereas the modal length of head and body is of 43 mm in males
and 45 mm in females (in Portuguese populations). The average weight is
2.0 g, when an adult animal, and 1,3 gs in subadult individuals (with a
length head-body of 38 mm); the maximum weight of a female with eggs
was 3,3 gs.
The back and
the flanks display a coloration of dark brown to black, the belly is
something clearer. Two dorsal-lateral bands of tan or copper coloured
spread throughout body and tail. In the later parts of the tail the two
bands merge forming a single dorsal band. The edges of the bands are
very irregular, with undulations and series of dots. In its head, and
sometimes also in the tail, the bands tend to break down in numerous
points and spots. |
Distribution: There are quotes
throughout the province of Asturias, and, in at least one locality,
it is present in Leon. It appears in the four provinces of Galicia,
and its range extends southward by Portugal, reaching the Serra da
Estrela (VENCES 1993; SEQUEIRA et al. 1996; ARNTZEN 1999). Within
its distribution area there are certain areas that probably are not
populated, as, for example, the Valley of Bergantiņos, southwest of
A Coruņa, large parts of the province of Lugo, and a large east area
of Oviedo, all very flat areas.
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Habitat: Appointments exist in all the province of Asturias, and it is
present, at least in one locality, in Leon. It appears in the four
provinces of Galicia, and its area of distribution extends towards
the South by an extensive zone to the east of Oviedo, all very level
zones. Chioglossa is restricted to zones with a smooth
climate and annual precipitations of more than 1,000 mm by square
meter. It generally lives in loss elevations of or middle altitude,
lacking over the 1,000 ms of altitude (up to 1,100 ms in the Serra
de Estrela in Portugal). It prefers streams with elevated acidity,
and its shortage in eastern Asturias agrees with the incidence of
limestone areas. It lives in mountainous habitats or with rough
topography, and depends on the clean stream presence. Strong
populations can be also found in deciduous forests or of rocky
eucalyptuses, gorsals and places practically without vegetation. In
dry and eucalyptal zones it lives in the stream proximity, in humid
places with extensive deciduous forest, outside the reproductive
time, departs more water.
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Report about the
reasons of the risk: The main threats to the
species are pollution of streams and the diversion of water for agricultural
purposes. In areas of low density, for example in Asturias, the destruction
of certain specific locations of reproduction may constitute an additional
problem.
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Category IUCN: LC
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Possible solutions:
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Culinary, medicinal and/or medicinal properties:
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Appearance
in the Literature and Arts:
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