Classification

Domain: Eukarya- Organisms whose cells contain a true nucleus and membrane bound organelles.
 
Kingdom: Animalia- Animals are eukaryotic and are multicellular, most being heterotrophic.

Phylum: Chordata- Animals which are vertebrates. They, for at least some period of their life cycle, have a notochord, a dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, an endostyle, and a post-anal tail.

Class: Amphibia- Cold-blooded animals that metamorphose from a juvenile water-breathing form, either to an adult air-breathing form, or to a paedomorph that retains some juvenile characteristics.

Order: Caudata- Salamanders, typically characterized by their slender bodies, short noses, and long tails.

Family: Ambystomatidae- Mole salamanders are identified by having wide, protruding eyes,        prominent costal grooves, thick arms, and rounded tails. Most have vivid patterning on dark backgrounds, with marks ranging from deep blue spots to large yellow bars depending on the species.

Genus: Ambystoma- meaning anabystoma - to cram into the mouth. Possibly derived from Amblystoma: Greek - blunt mouth.

Species: maculatum- meaning “speckled”.

          Ambystomatidae- Mole Salamanders

                                                     Caudata- Salamanders

                                                Amphibia  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phylogenetic relationships of salamanders based on combined molecular and morphological data.  

Information taken from tolweb.orb 

 

 

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