Why Are Salamanders Amphibians?

Jefferson Salamander Ambystoma jeffersonianum swimming in a shallow pool 2

Salamanders are small, soft-bodied animals that usually live near water or in damp forests. With their long tails, slim bodies, and quiet ways, people often mistake them for lizards. But looks can be deceiving. Salamanders are not reptiles, they are amphibians. So what makes them amphibians? Salamanders are amphibians because their life cycle includes both … Read more

Do Salamanders Have Good Hearing?

Ringed Salamander Ambystoma annulatum on a yellow leaf

Salamanders are small, quiet amphibians that live in many different places. Some stay near wet forests, while others hide under rocks beside streams or ponds. Because they are so quiet and still, people sometimes wonder how they sense what is happening around them. One common question is whether salamanders have good hearing. Yes, salamanders can … Read more

How Many Fingers Do Salamanders Have?

Arboreal Salamander Aneides lugubris feet (3)

Salamanders are small, quiet amphibians with long tails, smooth skin, and narrow bodies. They often walk slowly through wet leaves, climb over damp rocks, or stay hidden under logs. That leads to a common question: how many fingers do salamanders have? Most salamanders have four fingers on each front foot and five toes on each … Read more

Why Are Salamanders Associated With Fire?

Fire Salamander in water

In quiet forests and damp hollows, salamanders live hidden lives. For centuries, people have tied them to fire. You might wonder, why are salamanders associated with fire? Salamanders became linked to fire because people saw them jumping from burning logs and thought they could survive flames. In truth, they were only escaping danger, but these … Read more

What Type Of Salamanders Can You Have As Pets?

Yellow spotted salamander

Salamanders are quiet, careful animals that like to hide in dark forests, under wet logs, or near cool streams. When you spot one in the wild or online, you might wonder: what type of salamanders can you have as pets? Some salamanders can make good pets, but only certain species. With the right setup and … Read more

Why Do Salamanders Look Like Lizards?

Western Long-toed Salamander on brown leaf

If you’ve ever seen a salamander crawling out from under a log or near a stream, your first thought might have been, “That looks like a lizard!” The long body, the tail, the short little legs, it’s easy to see why people mix them up. The reason salamanders and lizards share the same body shape … Read more

Do Salamanders Have To Stay Wet?

Dark-Sided Salamander on a wet rock

Salamanders are small amphibians that usually live in forests, near streams, or in little underground burrows. They move quietly and have soft, delicate skin, which makes them seem mysterious. One of the most common questions about these animals is whether they need to stay wet all the time. Salamanders need their skin to stay moist, … Read more

Do Salamanders Have Sticky Feet?

Arboreal Salamander Aneides lugubris feet (3)

Salamanders are quiet, secretive creatures that move through wet forests, mossy rocks, and slow streams. Some even climb trees, hide in crevices, or walk along vertical surfaces. Because of this, people often ask: do salamanders have sticky feet? Yes, some salamanders do have sticky feet. Certain species have specialized toes, skin features, or produce mucus … Read more

Do Salamanders Have Nostrils?

Red Salamander

If you’ve ever spotted a salamander moving slowly through damp leaves or swimming in a cool stream, you might have wondered how it breathes. With such smooth skin and quiet movements, it’s natural to ask: do salamanders even have nostrils, or do they breathe some other way? Yes, salamanders do have nostrils. These tiny openings … Read more

Do Salamanders Have Long Tongues Like Frogs?

Brightly colored mud salamander

When you picture a frog, you probably think of its tongue shooting out in a flash to grab an insect. That quick, sticky strike is one of the things frogs are most famous for. But what about salamanders? Do they have long tongues that work the same way? No, salamanders don’t have the same kind … Read more