Why Are Salamanders Indicator Species?

Do Salamanders Need Light?

Salamanders are amazing animals that live in forests, wetlands, and streams. They have moist skin that lets them absorb water and breathe in part through it. You might wonder what makes them special, and why people say salamanders are good signs of environmental health. Salamanders are indicator species because their presence, how many there are, … Read more

What Salamanders Are Fully Aquatic?

Western Lesser Siren Siren nettingi in a pond

Salamanders are quiet, secretive creatures that tend to avoid attention. They live in damp forests, under rocks, or near streams, moving slowly and carefully through their surroundings. This leads to a clear question: what salamanders are fully aquatic, and how do they live differently from the rest? Fully aquatic salamanders include axolotls, sirens, amphiumas, mudpuppies, … Read more

Where Did Fire Salamanders Get Their Name?

Fire Salamander in water

Fire salamanders are some of the most well-known salamanders because of their bright black and yellow colors. Their bold patterns often make people think of fire and flames. But have you ever wondered where their name came from? Fire salamanders got their name from their bright yellow and black colors. These colors look like flickering … Read more

What Do Salamander Tadpoles Look Like?

Salamanders start their lives as larvae with feathery gills

Salamanders are quiet, secretive animals that often stay hidden in wet forests, cool streams, and muddy soil. They move slowly and carefully, blending in with the world around them. Like frogs, many salamanders begin life in the water. But instead of hatching as small frogs, they hatch as something different. They start their lives as … Read more

What Do Salamanders Use To Breathe?

Spotted Salamander on a leaf

Salamanders are soft-skinned animals that live in very damp places like forests, streams, and below-ground burrows. They move quietly and avoid dry, open areas. One of the most unusual things about salamanders is how they breathe. Salamanders can breathe using gills, lungs, their skin, or the thin lining inside their mouths, depending on their age … Read more

Why Do Salamanders Breathe Through Their Skin?

Red Salamander

Salamanders are different from many other animals because they don’t just breathe with lungs. They also breathe through their skin. This ability helps them survive in places where oxygen is low or where regular lung breathing would be hard. But why do salamanders breathe through their skin? Salamanders breathe through their skin because it lets … Read more

What Do Salamanders Use For Hearing?

Eastern Red-backed Salamander on forest floor

Salamanders are small, quiet animals that live in wet places like forests, ponds, and underground tunnels. They move slowly and stay out of sight, making it hard to know what they see, smell, or hear. One thing that many people notice when they look at a salamander is the lack of ears. They have no … Read more

What Do Salamanders Use Their Tails For?

Long-tailed Salamander Eurycea longicauda on wet rocky ground

Salamanders are small, careful animals that move slowly through damp forests, quiet streams, and cool underground spaces. They avoid dry places and stay close to water and shade. One thing that stands out when looking at a salamander is its long tail. Unlike frogs, which lose their tails as they grow, salamanders keep theirs for … Read more

Why Do Salamanders Do Push-Ups?

Brightly colored mud salamander

Salamanders are quiet animals that move carefully through damp forests, mossy rocks, and leafy ground. Sometimes, if you watch closely, you might see a strange behavior that looks like exercise. A salamander lifts its body up and down, almost like it’s doing a push-up. This might seem funny at first, but it’s not about fitness. … Read more

What Are Salamanders Predators?

Eastern Red-backed Salamander Plethodon cinereus on a wooden table

Salamanders are small, soft-bodied animals that live in damp forests, shallow streams, wetlands, and wet soil. They are quiet, careful, and spend most of their time hiding. Because they are small and soft, many bigger animals see them as easy meals. Salamanders are hunted by a wide range of predators, including birds, snakes, fish, mammals, … Read more