am and ers . ▁It ▁is ▁one ▁of ▁two ▁gener a ▁in ▁the ▁family ▁to ▁inhab it ▁the ▁Old ▁World ▁( the ▁other ▁being ▁K ars enia ), ▁with ▁the ▁remaining ▁ 2 5 0 ▁or ▁so ▁species ▁being ▁found ▁in ▁North , ▁Central ▁and ▁South ▁America . ▁This ▁genus ▁is ▁en demic ▁to ▁Italy ▁and ▁a ▁few ▁nearby ▁areas ▁( San ▁Mar ino , ▁Mon aco , ▁and ▁eastern ▁Prov ence ). ▁ ▁Character istics ▁Until ▁recently , ▁Spe le om antes ▁was ▁combined ▁with ▁the ▁web - to ed ▁sal am ander ▁genus ▁H yd rom antes ▁from ▁the ▁Sierra ▁Nev ada ▁range ▁of ▁California , ▁which ▁are ▁their ▁closest ▁relatives . ▁They ▁lack ▁l ungs ; ▁resp iration ▁takes ▁place ▁through ▁the ▁skin , ▁which ▁must ▁be ▁kept ▁mo ist , ▁and ▁the ▁l ining ▁of ▁the ▁mouth . ▁The ▁head ▁is ▁broad ▁and ▁distinct ▁with ▁prominent ▁eyes . ▁There ▁are ▁characteristic ▁deep ▁nas ol ab ial ▁gro ov es ▁between ▁the ▁nost r ils ▁and ▁the ▁edge ▁of ▁the ▁lips . ▁The ▁tongue ▁has ▁a ▁broad ▁tip ▁and ▁is ▁extens ible , ▁being ▁shot ▁forward ▁to ▁catch ▁pre y . ▁ ▁The ▁tail ▁is ▁short , ▁less ▁than ▁half ▁the ▁length ▁of ▁the ▁body , ▁and ▁lim bs ▁are ▁robust . ▁The ▁to es ▁often ▁have ▁bl unt ▁tips ▁and ▁are ▁partially ▁we bb ed . ▁ ▁Be hav iour ▁European ▁cave ▁sal am and ers ▁are ▁found ▁not ▁only ▁in ▁ca ver ns ▁but ▁on ▁the ▁ground ▁among