Dawley Ellen M, Bass Andrew H
Section of Ecology and Systematics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.
Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.
J Morphol. 1988 Nov;198(2):243-255. doi: 10.1002/jmor.1051980210.
Salamanders in the family Plethodontidae show a unique behavior (nose-tapping) and have unique structures (nasolabial grooves) that may be used specifically to convey chemicals to the vomeronasal organ. The nasal structure of Plethodon cinereus was studied to determine if there is enhanced development of the vomeronasal organ compared with other salamander families that would correlate with use of these unique features. The vomeronasal organ in salamanders is found in a ventrolateral diverticulum of each main olfactory organ. P. cinereus has a more anteriorly placed vomeronasal organ within the diverticulum, and the posterior limit of each nasolabial groove is adjacent to the anterior limit of the vomeronasal organs. This suggests that the grooves deliver chemicals preferentially to the vomeronasal organs instead of to the main olfactory organs. In addition, the vomeronasal sensory epithelium is thickest anteriorly and is at its thinnest at about the level corresponding to the location of the vomeronasal organ in other salamander families. These adaptations suggest a specific mechanism of odorant delivery to the vomeronasal organ in plethodontid salamanders not found in other salamander families.
隐鳃鲵科的蝾螈表现出一种独特的行为（轻敲鼻子），并具有独特的结构（鼻唇沟），这些结构可能专门用于将化学物质传递到犁鼻器。对灰口螈的鼻腔结构进行了研究，以确定与其他蝾螈科相比，其犁鼻器是否有增强的发育，这可能与这些独特特征的使用相关。蝾螈的犁鼻器位于每个主要嗅觉器官的腹外侧憩室中。灰口螈在憩室内的犁鼻器位置更靠前，每个鼻唇沟的后缘与犁鼻器的前缘相邻。这表明这些沟优先将化学物质传递到犁鼻器，而不是主要嗅觉器官。此外，犁鼻感觉上皮在最前端最厚，在与其他蝾螈科犁鼻器位置相对应的水平处最薄。这些适应性变化表明，隐鳃鲵科蝾螈存在一种向犁鼻器传递气味物质的特定机制，而其他蝾螈科则没有这种机制。
