Salamanders of Florida

The warm, moist climate with the various wetland and woodland habitats makes Florida a suitable home for an abundance of amphibians. In the state alone, 32 species and subspecies of salamander exist. Several different salamander families are represented in Florida, with some being fully aquatic, while others have a more terrestrial lifestyle.

  1. Fully Aquatic Salamanders

    • A number of the state's species never leave the water at any point in their lives. The one- and two-toed Amphiuma salamanders resemble eels and only have two very small front legs. Sirens are the same, also having long, thin bodies and no rear legs. Two subspecies of the northern dwarf siren live in the state: the narrow-striped and Everglades varieties. The Gulf hammock, slender and broad-striped dwarf sirens are subspecies of the southern dwarf siren. The eastern lesser and greater sirens are also native to the state. The Gulf Coast water dog is also fully aquatic and has four legs with distinct red, feathery gills.

    Mole Salamanders

    • The state is home to five species from the Ambystoma, or mole salamander genus. They are so called because they dig burrows in riverbanks. The largest of the mole salamanders is the eastern tiger, which grows to over a foot in length. The flatwoods and reticulated flatwoods salamanders are both natives of the state, as is the marbled variety with its black and white coloring. The final member of the family is known as the mole salamander.

    Brook Salamanders

    • The brook salamanders belong to the genus Eurycea and are found in slow-moving water such as streams and cave pools. Florida is home to four members of this group, including the entirely sightless Georgia blind salamander, which lives in cave pools. The southern two-lined, three-lined and dwarf salamanders also live in the state.

    Dusky and Slimy Salamanders

    • Florida is home to four members of the Besmognathus genus, better known as dusky salamanders. These species tend to live a terrestrial lifestyle and include the Apalachicola, southern and spotted dusky salamanders as well as the seal salamander. One species from the slimy salamander genus is found in the state. The slimy salamander as it is known gets its name from a substance it secretes through its skin as a defense from predators.

    Newts and Mud Salamanders

    • Newts are, in fact, salamanders and two subspecies of the eastern newt live in Florida: the central and peninsula newts. The striped newt is also present in the state. Mud salamanders, like mole salamanders, are found burrowing in the mud near rivers. Three members of the Pseudotriton, or mud salamander, genus live in the state. Those include the southern red salamander and two subspecies of the mud salamander species: the Gulf Coast and rusty varieties.