Definition

Noun: 1. A type of amphibian resembling a lizard: A urodele is a member of the order Urodela (or Caudata), which includes amphibians that typically have elongated bodies, long tails, and four limbs, such as salamanders and newts. They are distinguished from other amphibians like frogs (anurans) by retaining their tails throughout their life.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The spotted salamander is a common urodele found in North American forests.
  • Unlike frogs, a urodele keeps its tail after metamorphosis from larva to adult.
  • Herpetologists study the diverse life cycles of urodeles.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific Classification: The term is primarily used in zoological and biological contexts to categorize and discuss this specific order of amphibians.
  • The evolution of urodeles provides key insights into vertebrate adaptation to terrestrial environments.

Variants and Related Words

• Urodelan (adj): Relating to or characteristic of urodeles.
  • The researcher documented several urodelan species in the wetland.
• Caudate (adj/noun): Another scientific term for an animal possessing a tail, often used synonymously with urodele.
  • Salamanders are caudate amphibians.

Synonyms

• Salamander: A common name for many urodele species.
• Newt: A common name for certain semi-aquatic urodeles.

Related Terms (Contextual)

• Amphibian: The broader class of animals to which urodeles belong.
• Anuran: The order of amphibians that includes frogs and toads, which lose their tails in adulthood, providing a contrast to urodeles.

Noun

1. amphibians that resemble lizards