Salamanders Found in Massachusetts

Salamanders are a type of amphibian that have slender bodies, short noses and long tails. Most salamanders rely on having habitats near water that supply them with protection. Most salamanders range in size from three to eight inches in length. Salamanders in Massachusetts are threatened by their loss of habitat due to population growth and pesticide usage. You can find four families of salamanders in Massachusetts.

  1. Mole Salamanders

    • Sticking to wetland areas helps salamanders to survive.

      The mole salamander family is noted by the Spotted Salamander, the most common type of salamander in Massachusetts. This species is mainly nocturnal. You can distinguish it by a blackish color with yellow spots that vary for every individual salamander. They choose to live underground and can grow to almost 10 inches over a 20-year lifespan. Spotted Salamanders eat earthworms, slugs and small insects to survive and usually hibernate underground in the cold months, sticking close to the area where they were born.

    Newts

    • Being sensitive to heat, newts tend to live in water and rarely come onto land.

      Newts are similar to mole salamanders, with one distinguishing difference coming in the size. Newts are typically smaller than mole salamanders, but share similar habitats and eating habits. Newts like to spend the vast majority of their time in the water. For this reason, newts are very sensitive to heat sources and will excrete a toxic gel-like secretion that coats their skin in order to protect themselves.

    Mudpuppies

    • Living underwater for the majority of their life, mudpuppies do not develop lungs.

      Mudpuppies are similar to mole salamanders, but can usually grow a bit larger. This species is usually a brown or grayish color with dark spots and a light-colored underbody. Like the newt, the mudpuppy is permanently aquatic and found only in sources of water. Being it is permanently aquatic, the mudpuppy does not ever fully develop lungs. Unlike other salamanders, the mudpuppy has only four toes on each foot. Adult mudpuppies can grow up to 15 inches long . Mudpuppies typically eat crayfish, snails, worms and even small fish, as they can find them in watery areas.

    Lungless Salamanders

    • The lungless salamander, like it sounds, does not develop lungs. In this respect, they are similar to the mudpuppy. However, unlike the mudpuppy, the lungless salamander is able to live on land and breathes through its skin. These salamanders tend to be red-backed and slimy. Similar to other salamanders, the lungless variety tends to eat a diet filled with insects it can find in a moist environment with plenty of cover such as rocks, leaves, or wood. Being it is not able to breathe, the lungless salamander must stay moist to survive. If its skin dries out, it will die.