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The [[Taxonomy (biology)|taxonomy]] of ''Pseudotriton montanus'' and its closest relatives is unsettled. Several [[subspecies]] have been described, and some of these might warrant full species rank. In particular, ''[[Pseudotriton diastictus]]'' maybe treated as a species or a subspecies (''Pseudotriton montanus diastictus'').[{{cite web |url=http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/Amphibia/Caudata/Plethodontidae/Hemidactyliinae/Pseudotriton/Pseudotriton-montanus |title=''Pseudotriton montanus'' Baird, 1850 |author=Frost, Darrel R. |year=2015 |work=Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 |publisher=American Museum of Natural History |access-date=18 May 2015}}] The rest of this article is following the latter position. |
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The [[Taxonomy (biology)|taxonomy]] of ''Pseudotriton montanus'' and its closest relatives is unsettled. Several [[subspecies]] have been described, and some of these might warrant full species rank. In particular, ''[[Pseudotriton diastictus]]'' maybe treated as a species or a subspecies (''Pseudotriton montanus diastictus'').[{{cite web |url=http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/Amphibia/Caudata/Plethodontidae/Hemidactyliinae/Pseudotriton/Pseudotriton-montanus |title=''Pseudotriton montanus'' Baird, 1850 |author=Frost, Darrel R. |year=2015 |work=Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 |publisher=American Museum of Natural History |access-date=18 May 2015}}] The rest of this article is following the latter position. The four recognized subspecies include the Eastern Mud Salamander (P''. m. montanus''), Midland Mud Salamander (P''. m. diastitctus''), Gulf Coast Mud Salamander (P''. m. flavissimus'') and the Rusty Mud Salamander (''P. m. floridanus''). [Martof, B. S. (1975). Pseudotriton montanus.] |
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Although the only recorded predators of mud salamanders are snakes (garter or water snakes), Pseudotriton montanus exhibits anti-predator techniques such as curling the body, extending rear limbs, and raising its tail to its head to appear larger, as well as being able to release a toxic substance along its dorsum. This toxin, pseudotritontoxin, is only found in the mud salamander and the red salamander.[ The toxin released from the salamander has been reported to have a distinct foul taste to humans.][{{cite journal |last1=Brown |first1=E |title=Pseudotriton montanus |journal=Journal of Herpetology |date=1979}}] This toxicity has been equated to being somewhere between the dusky salamander and highly unpalatable red eft.[ The coloration and defensive posture of the mud salamander has been hypothesized to mimic that of the red eft stage of the [[eastern newt]] (Notophthalmus viridescens) which emits a powerful neurotoxin in their skin compared to the mild toxin they produce.]
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The only recorded predators of mud salamanders are snakes. Water snakes have been shown to feed on larva while garter snakes feed on adults. [{{Cite journal |last=Carr |first=David |date=Mar. 1996 |title=Morphological Veriation among Species and Populations of Salamanders in the Plethodon glutinosus Complex |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3892956 |journal=Herpetologica |volume=52 |issue=1 |pages=56-65}}] Pseudotriton montanus exhibits anti-predator techniques such as curling the body, extending rear limbs, and raising its tail to its head to appear larger, as well as being able to release a toxic substance along its dorsum. This toxin, pseudotritontoxin, is only found in the mud salamander and the red salamander.[ The toxin released from the salamander has been reported to have a distinct foul taste to humans.][{{cite journal |last1=Brown |first1=E |title=Pseudotriton montanus |journal=Journal of Herpetology |date=1979}}] This toxicity has been equated to being somewhere between the dusky salamander and highly unpalatable red eft.[ The coloration and defensive posture of the mud salamander has been hypothesized to mimic that of the red eft stage of the [[eastern newt]] (Notophthalmus viridescens) which emits a powerful neurotoxin in their skin compared to the mild toxin they produce.][> This is an example of Mullerian mimicry or when an already toxic species is mimicking another toxic species. ][{{Cite journal |last=Ronald |first=Brandon |last2=Labanick |first2=George |last3=Huheey |first3=James |date=Dec. 1979 |title=Relative Palatability, Defensive Behavior, and Mimetic Relationships of Red Salamanders (Pseudotriton ruber), Mud Salamanders (Pseudotriton montanus), and Red Efts (Notophthalmus viridescens) |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3891961 |journal=Herpetologica |volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=289-303}}>] |
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