endangered animals

The year these salamanders have become endangered is unknown, but the cause is because of alternation in ground water. Any chemicals dumped into the Salamander's habitat is hazardous because they have no lungs and breathe through their skin. Natural Predators is also a problem for these species. Arthropods (spiders), birds, and small mammals prey them on. Desert Salamanders are known to stay under sheets of limestone for shade in the summer. The sheets are being taken by collectors, which can result in the extinction of the species. These salamanders are 3.1-5 centimeters long, they also have a tail about the same length. Silver or brass colored sparkles can be found on their back, their belly has a maroon to chocolate brown cast. It has a broad head compared to other species of salamanders. The scientific name for the desert salamander is Batrachoseps Aridus. They look for food under rotting logs, they can also enter termite and earthworm holes. They usually eat spiders, mites, worms, snails, and other insects. In fall, they find cover in moist areas like decaying logs etc until late spring when the habitats they're in dry out. These salamanders lay their eggs in clusters of 4 to 21, other females may lay their eggs in the same cluster, which makes the egg cluster have 74 or more eggs. Hatching of these eggs occur in spring. Less than 1,000 of these salamanders exist today. The government has issued a law that says these salamanders cannot be taken from their habitat. Today, these species can only be found in the Hidden Palm Ecological Reserve, a reserve under the California Department of Fish & Game. Very many people believe they will survive in the reserves because they are being well taken care of.	Dutch

Written by: *JC Chang , Erick Aguilar*	(geschreven door)