Kinds of Salamanders

There are around 500 species of aquatic and terrestrial amphibians classified as salamanders.They come in a variety of typically bright warning colors that send a message to predators that they are poisonous; they have slim bodies, a small head with little eyes and a tail that, in some species, detaches and twitches when attacked to keep the predator occupied while the salamander escapes. Four of the more well-known species of salamander include the Mexican axolotls, mudpuppies, spotted salamanders and tiger salamanders.

  1. Mexican Axolotls

    • Mexican axolotls can live up to 15 years and eat mollusks, worms, insect larvae, crustaceans and fish.

      The Mexican axolotl has a condition called neoteny which causes it to keep its tadpole-like dorsal fin, which makes up most of its body length, and its external gills that stick out from behind its head. Mexican axolotls live in the Xochimilco lake complex close by Mexico City. Unlike most other salamanders, these live in the water permanently. Axolotls can grow up to a foot in length but the actual average size is 6 inches. Normally they are black or mottled brown but the albino specimens are also fairly common. Mexican axolotls can live up to 15 years and eat mollusks, worms, insect larvae, crustaceans and fish.

    Mudpuppies

    • Mudpuppies are one of the few salamanders that make noise. They get their name from this noise because it sounds like a dog bark. Mudpuppies can grow over 16 inches long, making them one of the largest of the salamanders. They live on the floors of lakes, rivers, ponds and streams and never leave the water. They hide under rocks and logs during the day and feed on worms, snails and whatever else they can catch at night. Mudpuppies' bodies are gray or grayish-brown with dark spots and have feathery, red external gills, flat heads, wide tails, stubby legs and four-toed feet.

    Spotted Salamanders

    • Spotted salamanders produce a milky poison from glands on their backs and tails to protect themselves against predators.

      Spotted salamanders can grow as long as 9 inches and are mostly found in the forest in eastern and midwestern United States and eastern Canada. They like to hide under rocks and logs and come out only at night to eat and during mating season in the spring. Spotted salamanders are chubby, blue-black and have two rows of yellow or orange spots trailing from its head to its tail. They produce a milky poison from glands on their backs and tails to protect themselves against being eaten by predators. Their diet consists of insects, worms, slugs, spiders and millipedes.

    Tiger Salamanders

    • Tiger salamanders are the largest land salamanders on Earth.

      Tiger salamanders are the largest land salamanders on Earth. They have thick bodies, short snouts, strong legs and long tails, can grow as long as 14 inches and come in shades of brown, usually with bright yellow stripes or spots all over their bodies. They live throughout North America in burrows up to 2 feet below the ground close by the water. Tiger salamanders eat at night and feed on insects, frogs and other salamanders.