Abbey Campbell

Art Gutierrez

UL100

November, 10 2019

Annotated Bibliography Assignment

“Barred Tiger Salamander.” Cosley Zoo, 17 Oct. 2019, cosleyzoo.org/barred-tiger-salamander/.

This website talks about barred tiger salamanders. It describes basic facts on habitat,

reproduction and behavior of the species. Salamanders are important species because they are

environmental indicators. They are very sensitive to changes and a decline in their populations is

a good sign there is something wrong in their environment. They produce poison in glands near

the base of their tail where the poison is secreted.

I would use this source to provide and example of a species of salamander that is poisonous and

where the poison is produced along with some basic facts about them. I also would use the

information given on why they are important as talking about a poisonous animal it’s also very

good to explain why they are important.

Bohling, Mary, and Michigan State University Extension. “The Misunderstood Mudpuppy.”

MSU Extension, Michigan State University, 2 Oct. 2018,

www.canr.msu.edu/news/the_misunderstood_mudpuppy_bohling15.
This university page details information on the common mudpuppy and some common

misconceptions. Muddpuppies are strictly aquatic and do not complete their metamorphosis

unlike other species of salamanders. This page specifically goes over some common

misconceptions in Michigan and is written by a herpetologist. Many misconceptions have to do

with fishing and that they are harming sport fish populations as well as if they are caught they

should be released because they’re poisonous. But neither of these are true. They don’t eat hardly

any fish and do not secrete poison.

I chose this site because it focused on an aquatic species of salamander and I have been focusing

on terrestrial, mainly tiger salamanders. I would use this for an example to show that it’s, as far

as I can tell, only species that complete their metamorphosis and become terrestrial adults that

secrete poison.

“CaliforniaHerps.com, Reptiles and Amphibians of California.” Salamander Behavior and Life

History - Defensive Strategies, California Herps, 10 Nov. 2019,

www.californiaherps.com/behavior/salamanderlifehistorydefense.html.

This website describes defensive behaviors of various salamander species. It details their

postures, defensive mechanisms, and the effects of some of their poison. The production of

poison, a defensive posture, and dropping its tail to get away are all detailed with different

species as examples along with pictures and videos.

This site would be a good source for defensive behavior in salamanders and it goes over their

poison glands and where it’s secreted as well as what effects it can have on other organisms. It
also helped me figure out a different search term to yield more results. Defensive behavior is

very important to understand.

Protection, Department of Environmental. “Salamanders of Connecticut.” DEEP: Salamanders of

Connecticut, State of Connecticut, 5 Nov. 2018,

www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&Q=537520&deepNav_GID=1655.

This government website discusses the differences between lizards and salamanders, the

salamander species found in Connecticut, and some basic facts about salamanders and how to

protect them. It details there habitat being a moist environment and, depending on the species,

terrestrial or aquatic. It also discusses their life cycle in detail and poison glands.

This site would be useful for describing their life cycle and unique characteristics even though

the information about poison glands is almost the same throughout all of my sources. It would be

helpful for describing some interesting facts about salamanders and add onto their importance.

Currently, since very little of the research I’ve done goes into detail about salamander poison it is

safe to say more research must be done.

“Salamander Information Salamander Fun Facts Reptile Gardens Reptile Gardens.” Salamander

Information | Salamander Fun Facts | Reptile Gardens | Reptile Gardens,

www.reptilegardens.com/animals/amphibians-and-bugs/salamanders.

This website gives basic facts and information on salamanders along with their habitat, and

regeneration abilities which have become an increasingly popular study for the medical fields. It
also details their conservation status and their populations are declining due to a loss of habitat

and the introduction of a fungal disease that’s affecting many species. It also talks about their

skin and how many people mistake them for being a venomous reptile, gila monster, which they

aren’t even close to.

Even though this site just briefly touches on their poison I think it would be good to use for

general information but more importantly their conservation status. Giving information of a

species that’s populations are declining helps others to be a little more interested especially if

they are important to the environment and beneficial to humans.