Ezra Mushala 
The red-backed salamander is the most common salamander in the state of Maryland. It can be found from the coast of Worcester County all the way west to the mountains of Garrett County. Though these tiny salamanders may look similar to Lizards, they are quite different. All salamanders are amphibians, just like frogs and toads. … Read more
In early spring, salamanders and other amphibians emerge from hibernation and head to the water to breed. But how do salamanders reproduce? Salamanders reproduce via sexual reproduction. In the vast majority of salamander species, the male deposits a spermatophore on the ground or in the water, and the female picks this up with her cloaca … Read more
When the winter ends and warmer spring temperatures arrive, amphibians emerge from hibernation and migrate to breeding sites to lay their eggs. Most amphibians will lay their eggs in the water, but many will lay their eggs on land. Amphibian eggs laid in the water can be difficult to tell apart unless you have a … Read more
Leopard frogs are small frogs found across much of the Northern part of North America. These frogs vary in color between species, but can easily be identified by their dark spots which form a leopard-like pattern. But are leopard frogs poisonous? Leopard frogs are not poisonous. They do not produce any skin toxins and are … Read more
Salamanders are often informally divided into two groups, “true salamanders” and newts. These two groups are very similar but do have some differences. Salamanders typically have smooth moist skin while newts tend to have more rough, grainy skin. Newts look somewhat like lizards. They have a slender body, a long tail, and four short legs. … Read more
Slimy salamanders are mediumly sized amphibians found throughout much of the eastern united states. These salamanders are easy to identify by their black bodies with numerous, well-scattered white spots on the back and sides. But are slimy salamanders poisonous? Slimy salamanders are mildly poisonous. They release a poisonous slime from glands on their skin to … Read more
When the winter ends and the warmer spring temperatures come, salamanders and other amphibians will emerge from their overwintering spots, and head to the water to breed. But do salamanders lay eggs? Most salamander species lay eggs in the water and attach them to submerged vegetation near the water surface. However, some salamanders such as … Read more
Salamanders are amphibians, which means they live part of their lives in water, and part on land. But have you ever wondered how salamanders breathe in each of these unique environments? Salamanders breathe either through their gills, lungs, or skin and thin membranes in their mouth and throat. Most salamanders start their lives with gills … Read more
When the winter ends, and the warm and wet spring weather comes, salamanders emerge from hibernation and migrate to ponds to mate and lay their eggs. But what do salamander eggs look like? Salamander eggs look somewhat like frogs eggs. They are laid in masses and attached to submerged plants near the water surface. Unlike … Read more
Dogs are natural predators, so it is common for them to chase and catch smaller animals in their mouths. Sometimes, these “smaller animals” may include certain species of newts. But are newts poisonous to dogs? All newts produce toxic skin secretions that can be very irritating or even lethal when ingested by a dog. This … Read more