Salamanders are some of the quietest animals on Earth. Most people only see one for a second near a stream or in the woods. Because they are so still and have unusual bodies, people often ask where they come from and what kind of animals they are. Many want to know how salamanders fit into the larger story of life.
Salamanders came from early amphibians over 150 million years ago and first appeared in parts of Europe and Asia. Today, they live in North America, Central America, Europe, and parts of Asia.
This means salamanders have been on Earth for a very long time. Their early relatives lived during the time of the dinosaurs.
Over the years, they spread to new areas and learned how to live in many places, including forests, mountains, and streams.
How Salamanders First Appeared
Salamanders are part of a group called amphibians. Frogs and caecilians are also in this group. Amphibians first appeared more than 350 million years ago, during the Devonian period.
The first amphibians likely came from fish that could breathe air and move on land. These animals had gills and lungs and could live in shallow water or muddy places. Some of them began to spend more time on land, but they still needed wet places to stay alive.
The group that would later become salamanders likely split off from other amphibians around 150 to 170 million years ago.
Fossils of early salamander-like animals have been found from the Jurassic period. These fossils came from places like China and Kazakhstan, which suggests that early salamanders may have started in Asia.
What Makes Salamanders Different From Other Amphibians?
Salamanders have long tails, smooth skin, and narrow bodies. Most of them move by swaying side to side, like lizards. But salamanders are not reptiles. Even though they are cold-blooded like reptiles, they have soft skin and a life cycle more like frogs.
Salamanders start life as larvae in the water. They have gills and stay underwater for a while before turning into adults.
Some keep their gills and live in water their whole lives. Others lose their gills and live mostly on land.
One thing that makes salamanders special is their ability to grow back lost body parts. Some can grow new legs, tails, and even parts of their eyes or hearts. This may have helped them survive hard times through the ages.
Where Salamanders Live Today
Salamanders mostly live in the Northern Hemisphere today. They are found in:
- North America
- Central America
- Europe
- East Asia
The largest number of salamander species live in North and Central America. The Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States have more salamander species than any other place.
These mountains are cool, moist, and have many levels of height, which make them a great place for salamanders to live.
In Central America, salamanders are found in mountain forests filled with clouds. These places are cool and damp, with many places to hide. In Europe, they live near streams and in wooded areas. In Asia, special species live in China and Japan.
Salamanders do not live in deserts or salty water. Their skin needs to stay moist, and their eggs need fresh water or damp soil. This keeps them from living in dry or salty places.
How Salamanders Spread Across the Earth
After they first appeared in Eurasia, salamanders began to move to new places. Over millions of years, they spread out. Some crossed land bridges that are gone now. Others were separated when the continents slowly shifted.
For example, during ice ages, sea levels dropped. This made land bridges between places that are now cut off by oceans. Salamanders could move across these bridges.
Later, when ice melted and seas rose, some groups got stuck in one area. Over time, they became different from other groups.
Some salamanders stayed in one region but slowly changed to fit their surroundings. This is called evolution. It’s how new species can form from older ones.
The many kinds of salamanders we see today came from these changes. Some adapted to life in water. Others learned to live in forests, caves, or high mountains.
Species of Salamanders
There are over 700 species of salamanders. They come in many sizes and shapes. Scientists group them into families based on their features and where they live.
Some common species include:
- Lungless salamanders (Plethodontidae): These breathe through their skin and mouth. They are the most varied group and live mostly in the Americas.
- Mole salamanders (Ambystomatidae): These are thick-bodied and spend a lot of time underground. The axolotl is part of this group.
- Giant salamanders (Cryptobranchidae): These are the biggest salamanders in the world. They live in cold, fast rivers.
- Newts (Salamandridae): These move between land and water during their lives. They are often brightly colored and make toxins to stay safe.
Each group has its own story about where it came from and how it changed over time.
Do Salamanders Live in Africa or Australia?
No salamanders are native to Africa, Australia, or most of the Southern Hemisphere. This is because of the way the land split and the types of climates in those places.
Salamanders likely never reached these areas before the continents broke apart. They also don’t do well in dry or salty places, so they could not cross deserts or oceans to get there.
Some kinds have been brought to new places by people, either by accident or on purpose. But salamanders do not naturally live outside the regions they came from.
How Salamanders Keep Surviving
Salamanders have lasted for millions of years, but they still face problems today. Their thin skin makes them very sensitive to changes in the world around them. Pollution, loss of land, and climate change all create danger.
In some areas, salamanders are disappearing because forests are being cut down or streams are being harmed.
Roads, houses, and farms break up their living spaces and make it harder for them to find food or mates.
Another big threat is disease. A fungus called Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, or Bsal, has killed off some groups. This fungus spreads easily and harms their skin, which they need to breathe and stay wet.
Scientists are trying to learn more about where salamanders live and what they need. Some places have been set aside as safe zones. In other areas, people are working to fix forests and streams so salamanders can return.
Conclusion
Salamanders come from a group of ancient amphibians that started over 150 million years ago. Their first ancestors lived in parts of Europe and Asia and later moved to other places, mostly in North and Central America.
They have learned to live in many different environments, from cool mountain streams to wet forest floors.
Because they need moisture, they are mostly found in the Northern Hemisphere and can’t live in dry or salty places.
Even though they are quiet and hidden, salamanders are an important part of nature and have a long history on Earth.
Hi, my name is Ezra Mushala, i have been interested animals all my life. I am the main author and editor here at snakeinformer.com.