Blue-spotted salamanders are colorful amphibians found in the United States and Canada. These salamanders are easily identifiable by the beautiful bluish-white spots and flecks on their bluish-black skin. You may have seen one of these salamanders and wondered if they are poisonous. Blue-spotted Salamanders are mildly poisonous. They have granular glands that produce a toxic … Read more
Salamanders are the only amphibians that have tails in the adult stage of their life. Like Lizards, salamanders can lose part of most of their tail, and subsequently regenerate it. But have you ever wondered why this happens? The main reason salamanders lose their tails is to defend themselves when they are grabbed by a … Read more
Long-toed salamanders are fairly small amphibians found in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. These salamanders are rarely seen as they spend most of their time in burrows underground, often only surfacing at night to forage for food. But are long-toed salamanders poisonous? Long-toed salamanders produce a sticky secretion from glands on their tails, … Read more
Long-toed salamanders are fairly small amphibians found in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. These salamanders get their name from the very long fourth toe on their hind feet, and can easily be identified by the bright green stripe that runs along their back. But what do long-toed salamanders eat? Like most salamanders, long-toed … Read more
Many people know that salamanders need to be around water to keep their skins moist. But can salamanders swim? All salamanders can swim. However, some salamanders live a mostly terrestrial life and are not the strongest of swimmers. Salamanders typically begin their lives as aquatic larvae with gills for breathing in the water. As they … Read more
Red-back salamanders (also called redback salamanders) are common across the eastern and central United States. These salamanders are usually found in forest areas but often wander into people’s backyards. You may have seen one of these salamanders and wondered if they are poisonous. Red-backed salamanders are very mildly poisonous. They have glands that secrete a … Read more
Red-backed salamanders (also called redback salamanders) are one of the most common salamander species in North America. They are often associated with decaying logs or leaf litter on the forest floor, where they spend most of their time hidden. At night, they leave their hiding spots to forage for food. Like most salamanders, red-backed salamanders … Read more
Red salamanders are strikingly beautiful amphibians found in the eastern united states. These salamanders are bright red and have extensive black spotting on the back and sides, hence their name. But are red salamanders poisonous? Red salamanders produce a milky secretion that makes them foul-tasting to predators. This secretion is mildly poisonous and may be … Read more
Dogs are natural predators, so it is common for them to catch smaller animals in their mouths. In some parts of the United States, these “smaller animals”, may include certain species of salamanders are newts. Nearly all salamander species produce poisonous secretions that can be harmful when ingested by a dog. This means that if … Read more
In early spring, salamanders and other amphibians emerge from hibernation and head to the water to breed. But how do salamanders reproduce? Salamanders reproduce via sexual reproduction. In the vast majority of salamander species, the male deposits a spermatophore on the ground or in the water, and the female picks this up with her cloaca … Read more