Are Salamanders Good To Have Around?

Eastern Red-backed Salamander Plethodon cinereus on a wooden table 1

If you’ve ever spotted a salamander slipping under a log or crawling along a damp path, your first thought might be curiosity. They don’t seem dangerous. They don’t make noise or mess up the garden. But you might still wonder if they’re good or bad to have around your home or yard. Salamanders are great … Read more

Are Salamanders Safe To Hold?

Blue-spotted Salamander Ambystoma laterale in a hand

Salamanders are quiet, gentle creatures. They move slowly and don’t seem threatening, which makes them feel safe to touch. You might see one in your yard or in your terrarium and wonder if it’s okay to pick it up. But even though they look soft and harmless, there’s an important question to ask: are salamanders … Read more

Do Salamanders Have Night Vision?

Spotted Salamander Ambystoma maculatum on a road

Salamanders are mostly active in the dark. You’ll often spot them creeping through damp leaves at night or hiding quietly beneath wet logs. They seem to move through shadowy areas with confidence, as if the darkness doesn’t bother them at all. This might leave you wondering: do salamanders have night vision? Salamanders do have night … Read more

Do Salamanders Have Vocal Cords?

Unisexual Mole Salamande on wet ground 1

Salamanders are quiet, secretive animals that tend to move silently through leaf litter, damp forests, or still water. They don’t call like frogs or sing like birds, and many people who observe them for the first time are surprised by how silent they are. This silence might make you wonder: do salamanders have vocal cords? … Read more

Do Salamanders Have Venom?

California Newt Taricha torosa on wet ground

Salamanders are small, often secretive amphibians that live in cool, damp places. You might spot one hiding under a rock or crawling through leaf litter after it rains. They usually seem harmless, but some people still wonder, do salamanders have venom? No, salamanders are not venomous. They do not inject toxins like snakes or spiders … Read more

Do Salamanders Have A Vertebrae Column?

Southern Two-lined Salamander Eurycea cirrigera on wet ground

Salamanders are soft-bodied creatures with long tails and four legs, often moving slowly through damp environments. You might wonder if these animals have a backbone like humans and other vertebrates. Salamanders do have a vertebral column, also called a backbone. They belong to the group of animals known as vertebrates, which means they have an … Read more

Do Salamanders Eat Vegetables?

Marbled Salamander Ambystoma opacum on a foor with brown leaves 3

Salamanders are quiet, careful animals that live in damp forests, streams, and wet soil. They hide under logs and leaves, coming out mostly at night to feed. They do not make much noise or show strong emotions, but they play an important role in the natural world. Many people who see a salamander for the … Read more

Do Salamanders Travel In Groups?

Northern Red Salamander Pseudotriton ruber on a wet rock 2

When you think of animals that move together in groups, your mind might go straight to flocks of birds in the sky or schools of fish darting through the water. Maybe you think of elephants moving in herds across the plains or wolves hunting in packs. But what about salamanders? The short answer is no. … Read more

Do Salamanders Sunbathe?

Unisexual Mole Salamander Ambystoma unisexual covered in dirt

You might have seen lizards lying out in the sun, stretched across a warm rock, soaking in the heat. This is a common behavior for reptiles, especially those that rely on sunlight to help control their body temperature. But do salamanders sunbathe too? Salamanders do not sunbathe. In fact, most salamanders avoid sunlight as much … Read more

Do Salamanders Start As Tadpoles?

Southern Long-toed Salamander larva 1

When you think about animals that start life as tadpoles, frogs and toads probably come to mind first. Tadpoles are well-known as the wiggly little water creatures that grow into frogs. But what about salamanders? Do salamanders also start life as tadpoles? Many salamanders begin their lives as larvae that look a lot like tadpoles. … Read more