Morphology of the Blood Sinus in the Expanded Toe Tips of the Arboreal Salamander, Aneides lugubris (Plethodontidae)

The lungless climbing salamander Aneides lugubris (family Plethodontidae) respires through cutaneous and buccal respiration rather than via lungs. A preliminary study from 1899 noted that there were two blood sinuses in the expanded toe tips of A. lugubris and hypothesized they facilitated respiration. Our goal is to histologically confirm the presence of these blood sinuses. Our work sets the stage for future work on the biomechanics and physiological function of toe tips in these climbing and lungless salamanders.