Search results for "Salamandra atra"
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A molecular phylogeny of ‘true’ salamanders (family Salamandridae) and the evolution of terrestriality of reproductive modes
2009
Key innovations enable species to conquer new habitats. Within the family Salamandridae, particular adaptations to terrestrial life, such as the anatomy and physiology of the feeding apparatus, courtship behaviour and in some cases viviparity, allowed the ‘true’salamanders (genera Chioglossa, Mertensiella, Salamandra) to shift from a semi-aquatic to a more terrestrial life cycle. We sequenced 423 base pairs of the 16S RNA gene of the mitochondrial DNA for all species of the ‘true’salamanders. Based on the resulting phylogeny we discuss the evolution of terrestrial reproductive modes within this species group. We especially tested two hypotheses of monophyletic origin of specific adaptations…