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Glite Dictionary
Plethodontidae

Plethodontidae

9.9
A group of small land salamanders from the Americas that have no lungs or gills as adults
  • noun
  • /plɛθəˈdɒntɪdi/
  • Specialized
: Plethodontidae
  • Unlike most amphibians, adult Plethodontidae absorb oxygen through their skin instead of lungs or gills.

Examples

  • Scientists have discovered several new species within the Plethodontidae family in Central America.

  • Did you know that Plethodontidae are lungless salamanders?

  • The Plethodontidae are widely studied for their unique adaptations to terrestrial life.

  • The Plethodontidae family includes many unique species.

  • Adult Plethodontidae rely on moisture in their environment to absorb oxygen through their skin.

  • Researchers are studying Plethodontidae to learn more about their unique respiratory adaptations.

  • The Plethodontidae family contains many species that thrive in damp forest habitats.

Synonyms

family Plethodontidae
vsPlethodontidae
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of small land salamanders that have no lungs as adults and breathe through their skin

is identical in sense but uses the shorter taxon name

Surface Forms

Plethodontidae singular
Plethodontidae plural

Morphology

Plethodontidae = Plethodon (opaque) = Plethodont + idae

Formed by a Latinized taxonomic suffix (-idae) attached to a genus stem (Plethodon → Plethodont-); this is a technical naming convention and not transparently meaningful to general learners.

Etymology

The word Plethodontidae comes from Greek parts pleth- 'many' and -odont- 'tooth' and the ending -idae that marks a family name. So it literally means 'many-toothed', a name given because these salamanders have many small teeth.