Salamanders are quiet amphibians found in many places. You might see them in wet forests, clear streams, mountain springs, or hidden away in underground burrows. Because they’re so varied, it’s natural to wonder where they truly belong. Are they land animals, water animals, or something else entirely?
Salamanders can be land animals, water animals, or both. Some spend their lives in water, others on land, and many move between the two at different points in their lives.
This mix of lifestyles makes salamanders one of the most adaptable amphibians.
What It Means To Be An Amphibian
Salamanders are amphibians. That word means “double life,” which describes how many of them start out in water before moving to land. Frogs do this, and so do plenty of salamanders.
But not all salamanders follow the same plan. Some stay in water their whole lives. Some live entirely on land. Others return to water only to breed. And a few avoid water completely once they hatch.
This flexibility is one of the reasons salamanders can live in so many places, from high mountains to swampy lowlands.
Salamanders That Live In Water
Some salamanders are fully aquatic. They stay in the water from birth to death. Their bodies are made for swimming and breathing underwater.
Most aquatic salamanders have:
- Wide tails shaped like paddles for swimming
- Gills, lungs, or both, depending on the species
- Smooth, soft skin that takes in oxygen from the water
- A need for clean, cool, and well-oxygenated water
The axolotl is one of the most famous. It keeps its gills for life and never makes the full change into a land adult. It stays in lakes and canals.
Mudpuppies are another example. These large salamanders also keep their gills and live in rivers, ponds, and lakes. They spend a lot of time hiding under rocks and logs.
Hellbenders are the biggest aquatic salamanders in North America. They live in fast-moving streams and breathe through folds of skin along their sides. Even though they lose their gills as adults, they never leave the water.
All of these salamanders depend completely on freshwater. Without clean water, they can’t breathe or survive.
Salamanders That Live On Land
Many salamanders spend most or all of their adult lives on land. These are called terrestrial salamanders.
Most start life in water. But once they grow lungs and change into adults, they move to moist areas on land.
Terrestrial salamanders often have:
- Lungs, or the ability to breathe through skin and mouth lining
- Slender bodies and short legs for moving through leaf litter
- A strong need for damp, shaded places
- Behaviors that help them keep their skin wet
The eastern red-backed salamander lives in forests under rocks, logs, and leaves. It doesn’t have lungs. It breathes through its skin and mouth lining, so it must stay moist.
The slimy salamander also lives in woodlands and hides in dark, wet spots. Its skin produces a sticky slime that keeps predators away.
The spotted salamander spends much of the year underground but comes out in spring to breed in temporary pools.
Even though they breathe air, land salamanders aren’t dry-weather animals. Without moisture, they can’t survive.
Salamanders That Use Both Land And Water
Some salamanders split their time between both worlds. These are called semi-aquatic salamanders. They start life in water, move to land as adults, and return to water to breed.
These salamanders often:
- Hatch from eggs in water
- Breathe through gills as larvae
- Grow lungs and live on land as adults
- Return to water to lay eggs
The tiger salamander is one example. It starts out in ponds or marshes, moves to burrows as an adult, and comes back to water each spring to reproduce.
The marbled salamander has a different approach. It lays eggs in dry pond beds before fall rains arrive. Once water fills the ponds, the eggs hatch.
By using both habitats, these salamanders can take advantage of food and shelter in more than one place.
How Salamanders Breathe
Where a salamander lives often depends on how it breathes.
Aquatic salamanders may use gills, lungs, or take in oxygen through their skin. Land salamanders use lungs, skin, or both. Some species, called lungless salamanders, rely only on their skin and mouth lining.
Skin breathing is called cutaneous respiration. Breathing through the mouth lining is buccopharyngeal respiration. Both only work if the salamander stays moist.
This is why even land salamanders need wet or humid places to survive.
How They Stay Moist On Land
Salamanders that live on land have ways to avoid drying out:
- Hiding under logs, rocks, and leaves
- Staying in shaded forests or damp underground tunnels
- Coming out at night or during rain
- Burrowing into wet soil or moss
These habits help keep their skin wet enough for breathing. If their skin dries, they can stop breathing and may die.
Conclusion
So, are salamanders land or water animals?
They can live on land, in water, or both. Some stay in water for life. Others spend their lives on land. Many switch between the two depending on the season or life stage.
This flexibility makes salamanders highly successful amphibians. But it also means they depend on both types of environments to survive.
Hi, my name is Ezra Mushala, i have been interested animals all my life. I am the main author and editor here at snakeinformer.com.