There is no definite tympanic cavity. The hyoid apparatus is throughout life connected to the quadrate by ligament, and a large basilingual plate does not occur. The ribs are short structures with bifurcated proximal ends. In the pelvis the pubis remains cartilaginous, and there is a bifid cartilaginous epipubis. The bones of the fore-arm and shin remain distinct, and the manus never has more than four digits.
Suborder (1). Ichthyoidea.
The vertebrae are amphicoelous, but the notochord remains but little constricted throughout the whole length of the vertebral column. Three or four branchial arches nearly always persist in the adult. The cartilages of the carpus and tarsus remain unossified.
The Ichthyoidea may be subdivided again into two groups:—
A. Perennibranchiata, whose chief distinguishing skeletal characters are that the skull is elongated, the premaxillae are not ankylosed, the maxillae are vestigial or absent; there are sometimes no nasals, and the palatines bear teeth;
e.g. Siren, Proteus, Menobranchus.
B. Derotremata, whose chief distinguishing skeletal characters are that there are large maxillae and nasals; teeth are borne by both maxillae and premaxillae; there are no palatines; and both pectoral and pelvic limbs are always present;
e.g. Amphiuma, Megalobatrachus, Cryptobranchus.
Suborder (2). Salamandrina.
The vertebrae are opisthocoelous. The skull is broad, and teeth are borne by both premaxillae and dentaries. Nasal bones are present. The remains of only two branchial arches are found in the adult. The carpus and tarsus are more or less ossified.