In the winter, we don’t see many salamanders or other amphibians around. This is because salamanders cannot internally control their body temperature, so it is at the mercy of the temperatures in their environment. Salamanders are ectothermic (cold-blooded) animals, which means they cannot regulate their body temperature. Their body temperature changes as the temperature in … Read more
Most salamanders are carnivores, which means they eat only animal protein. Their exact diet will depend on their size, age, their habitat, and the part of the world they live in. Generally, salamanders eat worms, slugs, and a wide variety of insects in the wild. In addition, large salamanders are capable of eating mice, baby … Read more
We all know that salamanders and newts love to spend a great deal of their time in the water. You may have seen a salamander in a pond or stream and wondered, can salamanders breathe underwater? Different salamander species have different ways of breathing. Some salamanders, such as axolotls and sirens have gills and can … Read more
We all know that salamanders love to spend a lot of their time in or around streams, ponds, or other water bodies. During the breeding season, it is common to see hundreds of salamanders migrating to ponds where they can swim freely and lay their eggs. But how long can salamanders stay underwater? Salamander larvae … Read more
Salamanders are ectothermic (cold-blooded) animals, which means they can’t generate their own internal body heat. Instead, their body temperature changes with that of their surroundings. Due to this, salamanders become less active in the winter when the temperatures drop. Terrestrial salamanders hibernate in logs or underground burrows when their environment gets too cold. Many aquatic … Read more
Marbled salamanders are common throughout much of the eastern United States. These secretive amphibians are easy to identify by the silvery cross bands along their bodies. Marbled Salamanders have poison glands on their tails that produce a foul-tasting secretion as a defense against predators. This secretion is only mildly poisonous and is of no serious … Read more
Salamanders are very secretive creatures. Due to this, several myths and legends have arisen about them over the centuries. Many ancient people believed that salamanders were fireproof and so cold-blooded that their bodies could extinguish the flames themselves. However, most of these legends are untrue. Salamanders are not fireproof and can not withstand fire. Being … Read more
Spotted salamanders are colorful amphibians found in parts of the eastern United States and Canada. These salamanders are easily identifiable by their bluish-black skin, and the beautiful yellow spots extending from their head to tail. But what do spotted salamanders eat? Spotted salamanders are opportunistic carnivores that will eat almost any prey that can fit … Read more
Fire belly newts, (sometimes called Fire-Bellied Newts) are originally from Asia and are one of the most popular non-native newts kept as pets in the United States. These newts are actually two different species, but they are so similar that they are often referred to as a single species. But are fire belly newts poisonous? … Read more
Mud salamanders are beautiful amphibians found across the Southeastern united states. These salamanders are known for their reddish-brown coloration with well-separated black spots on the back and sides. Mud salamanders are mildly poisonous. They have glands along the backside of their bodies that produce a toxic secretion as a defense against predators. This secretion is … Read more