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
Newts are endearing little creatures that are fun to observe in the wild and make amusing pets. While they seem defenseless when it comes to fending off hungry predators, they have a few tricks to keep predators away. But are newts poisonous? All newts produce poisonous secretions that make them distasteful or lethal to most … 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
Salamanders are amphibians, which means they live part of their lives in water, and part on land. But have you ever wondered how salamanders breathe in each of these unique environments? Salamanders breathe either through their gills, lungs, or skin and thin membranes in their mouth and throat. Most salamanders start their lives with gills … Read more
When most people see their first salamander, they call it a lizard. However, on closer examination, most notice that these creatures are nothing like Lizards. They have smooth, moist skin, much like frogs. This is because salamanders are amphibians closer to frogs than they are to lizards. Like most amphibians, salamanders produce poisonous secretions as … Read more
Salamanders are often informally divided into two groups, “true salamanders” and newts. These two groups are very similar but do have some differences. Salamanders typically have smooth moist skin while newts tend to have more rough, grainy skin. Newts look somewhat like lizards. They have a slender body, a long tail, and four short legs. … Read more
Newts are capable of living long lives. How long a newt will live depends on many factors. For wild newts, their lifespan will depend on the environment they live in, and the predators they have to deal with. The lifespan of captive newts is mainly dependent on how well their owners take of them. Depending … Read more
Bigger animals tend to live longer smaller animals (not always). Think about it- humans live longer than dogs, which live longer than rats, which live longer than bugs. However, when it comes to salamanders, this isn’t the case. Many salamander species have lifespans that far exceed those of much larger animals. Depending on the species, salamanders live … Read more