Plethodon Ouachita
(Rich Mountain Salamander)
The Rich Mountain Salamander is a small amphibian found in the temperate forests of Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma. The excretory system of this salamander, and many amphibians and reptiles, uses an organ called a cloaca in order to transfer waste materials to the external environment. Like many organisms, the Rich Mountain Salamander’s two kidneys are extremely important in excreting nitrogenous waste, and the urinary bladder stores waste in the form of urea and ammonia before it is released into the environment. The salamander has a large glomerulus in order to deal with excess water, and while in the water, it is able filter blood and does not reabsorb much water through osmosis. The bladder of the Rich Mountain Salamander is used as a means to conserve water. The salamander can close its cloaca orifice and divert urea into the bladder. Therefore, it is able to allow its bladder to fill with water and then reabsorbs this water, plus many useful nutrients, into its blood stream when it is on land.