Wandering salamanders inhabit the canopies of redwood forests, soaring around in search of sustenance.(Image credit: piemags/nature / Alamy Stock Photo)ShareShare by:
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Name: Wandering salamander (Aneides vagrans)
Where it dwells: Coastal redwood woodlands of North America
What it consumes: Bugs, arachnids, tiny arthropods, and gastropods
The wandering salamander is not your typical amphibian. Rather than hiding beneath fallen trees or frolicking in marshes, it embraces an arboreal existence. Indigenous to the redwood forests, these amphibians live the majority of their lives high in trees, taking refuge in the inmost bark crevices and feeding on insects.
Since their habitats are situated over 300 feet (90 meters) above the ground, wandering salamanders traverse across trees seeking resources and nourishment, necessitating a reliable grasp upon landing — otherwise, they risk a fall to the forest floor.
For protection, wandering salamanders have developed a distinctive gliding mechanism: 18 toes fueled by blood. These unique features are crucial to the salamander’s skilled jumping and landing amid the intricate canopy.
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According to research featured in the Journal of Morphology, the wandering salamander modulates its grip on tree bark by actively channeling blood into and out of the tips of its square-shaped toes.
Previously, scientists speculated that the vibrant blood circulation beneath their clear skin assisted in keeping their feet well-oxygenated. Yet, this assertion lacked supporting factual data.
Wandering salamanders engorge their toes with blood before leaping, then evacuate it upon landing for enhanced adhesion.
By employing high-definition video experiments, biologists steered by Christian Brown, a scientist affiliated with Washington State University, made the discovery that wandering salamanders possess the capacity to finely orchestrate blood dissemination to either side of the toe tip in an asymmetrical manner, thereby amplifying or diminishing the contact extent with a surface.
As the salamander gets ready to traverse across branches, it swiftly inundates the toe tip with blood. The elevated blood pressure facilitates the salamanders’ release from the tree, given that the blood upsurge augments pressure, prompting a momentary dilation of the toe pads. This subtle elevation lessens the contact zone, simplifying disengagement from the surface.
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The opposing action is equally essential; wandering salamanders promptly draw out the blood from their toe tips at the moment of landing. This action softens the toes and boosts the surface contact, granting them enhanced conformity to the uneven and rugged texture, thus furnishing a firmer and more effective hold that impedes the salamander from losing its grip.
They modulate the pressure in a dynamic fashion, according to whether they are stepping, gripping, or releasing.
“If you’re scaling a redwood and you have 18 toes adhering to the bark, possessing the capability to disengage with competence, thus averting harm to your toe tips, is supremely important,” Brown stated in a release.
TOPICSamazing animals
Jay KakadeLive Science Contributor
Jay Kakade is a freelance science writer, with a focus on the connection between scientific findings, technological progress, and gadgets. His writing has been featured in New Atlas, Tech Explorist, Inceptive Mind, among other venues. He delights in writing concerning Earth, geoscience, and the enigmas of the cosmos.
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