Can You Eat Salamanders?

Group of Ringed Salamander Ambystoma annulatum in a container

Salamanders are small, quiet animals that live in damp forests, streams, and wetlands. They spend most of their time hiding under leaves, rocks, or logs. You probably don’t think of them as food. But in some places or during survival situations, someone might wonder: can you eat a salamander? No, you shouldn’t eat salamanders. Even … Read more

Do Salamanders Hurt You?

Blue-spotted Salamander Ambystoma laterale on green moss

Salamanders are small, quiet animals that often slip away before you even get close. They don’t hiss or snap. They don’t puff up or try to scare you. But if you’re not used to them, you might still stop and wonder, can a salamander hurt you? Salamanders do not hurt people. They don’t bite in … Read more

Do Salamanders Have An Exoskeleton?

Small-mouthed Salamander Ambystoma texanum underside

When you look at a salamander, it might seem soft, bendy, and squishy. It doesn’t have a shell like a crab or a hard, crunchy body like a beetle. Its skin is smooth, damp, and flexible. So you might wonder, does this animal have an exoskeleton? No, salamanders do not have an exoskeleton. They have … Read more

Do Salamanders Survive Winter?

Spotted Salamander Ambystoma maculatum on a dry log 1

Salamanders are small, soft-bodied animals. They seem fragile, especially when the cold season arrives. You don’t see them walking around in the snow or crawling over frozen leaves. So it’s natural to wonder, do salamanders survive winter? Salamanders do survive winter. They survive by going into a resting state called brumation. During this time, they … Read more

Do Salamanders Have Webbed Feet?

Arboreal Salamander Aneides lugubris feet (2)

Salamanders live in all kinds of places. If you’ve ever looked closely at their toes, you may have noticed something interesting, some have skin stretched between their toes, and some don’t. That might make you wonder: do salamanders have webbed feet? Yes, but not all of them. Some salamanders have webbed feet, and some do … Read more

Do Salamanders Have Feelings?

Dark-sided Salamander Eurycea melanopleura on wet moss

Salamanders live quiet, secretive lives. They don’t smile, frown, wag their tails, or make happy noises. They just sit, crawl, and sometimes disappear under a log without warning. This calm and silent behavior might make you wonder: do salamanders have feelings? No, not in the emotional way humans do. Salamanders do not feel happiness, sadness, … Read more

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