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
In the winter, we do not see many newts and salamanders. This is because they are ectothermic (cold-blooded) animals, meaning they can not regulate their internal body temperature. When the environmental temperatures rise or fall, so does their internal temperature. So where do newts go in the winter? All newts hibernate to protect themselves from … 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
Blue-spotted salamanders are colorful amphibians found in parts of the eastern United States and Canada. These salamanders are easily identifiable by the beautiful bluish-white spots and flecks on their bluish-black skin. But what do blue-spotted salamanders eat? Blue-spotted salamanders are opportunistic carnivores with a very diverse diet. In the wild, they eat worms, snails, slugs, centipedes, spiders, … Read more
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