European hynobiids...<b><i>way</i></b> back when

TJ

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Tim Johnson
I never knew before that members of the Asiatic family Hynobiidae used to inhabit eastern Europe (and I don't mean Russia), just like cryptobranchids did long ago.

I read it in this abstract:

Land salamanders of the family Hynobiidae from the Neogene and Quaternary of Europe

Author(s): Marton Venczel
Source: Amphibia-Reptilia Volume: 20 Number: 4 Page: 401 -- 412
DOI: 10.1163/156853899507158
Publisher: Brill Academic Publishers

Abstract: A new extinct genus with two new species of land salamanders of the family Hynobiidae, from the Late Miocene of Polgardi (MN13), Hungary (Parahynobius kordosi gen. n. sp. n.) and from the Lower Pleistocene of Betfia IX/C (MQ1), Romania (Parahynobius betfianus gen. n. sp. n.), is described. The Late Miocene locality of Tardosbanya (MN12) and the Lower Pliocene locality of Osztramos 1C (MN14), Hungary, also yielded several vertebrae, assigned with some doubt to the above genus (cf. Parahynobius). The new taxa belonged to the westernmost distributed stock of land salamanders of the Hynobius-group, which, based on the available fossil record, reached the Carpathian Basin during Late Miocene and disappeared from the area during Lower Pleistocene times. The Hynobiidae had a wider geographic distribution during the Tertiary and Quaternary compared to their present range, which is limited to Asia.

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Anybody know what is the westernmost range of hynobiids today? I've read of Hynobius turkestanicus inhabiting Turkmenistan, but it seems it may be extinct already. Salamandrella keyserlingii is elsewhere said to be the only hynobiid in Europe, but the range map I have seen does not show it extending west of Siberia.

(Message edited by TJ on September 02, 2004)
 
I think that'd be Batrachuperus persicus in Iran, in the Elburz Mountains along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea.
 
So it seem they died out before me ... why didn't they wait ??

From what I read in Kuzmin, Hynobius turkestanicus is a doubtfull species.
 
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    He also seems a little sluggish, again, assuming hes cold. Having heating trouble with the new house right now. What do we think? Was thinking of grabbing this for him since its got very low, medium, and higher medium heat settings that exude heat downward inside the rock cave but ALSO exudes it UPWARDS outside of the rock cave, effectively keeping the tank itself a little warm. Seems like it miiiight be a little small for him though, my guy is about 7 inches from tip of his nose tothe tip of his tail. What do we think? https://www.amazon.com/Reptile-Simulation-Adjustable-Temperature-Tortoise/dp/B0CH1DPGBC
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  • FragileCorpse:
    I also asked this as an actual question in a thread in case anyone wants to answer it there instead of here
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    FragileCorpse: I also asked this as an actual question in a thread in case anyone wants to answer it there... +1
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