Salamander Pictures
| Salamanders Amphibians Around the World Pacific Giant Salamander Rough-skinned Newt Oregon Ensatina Painted Ensatina Slender Salamander |
Members of the group share physical characteristics such as elongated bodies with feet and a tail, which easily differentiates them from the other amphibian groups.
Physical similarities also serve as identifying features among Caudata families, making salamander and newt identification a relatively easy task, compared to finding them.
With about 500 different salamander species around the world, salamanders account for less than ten per cent of the total number of amphibian species. If you see an amphibian in a purely statistical world, the odds are overwhelming that it will be a frog or toad.
Caudata are almost as difficult to find in the real world. Many species live their lives in moist forest environments under rocks, downed limbs and bark. Finding them is often a matter of walking through the woods and looking under the objects that cover them.
Salamander enthusiasts also recommend night time expeditions as a good way to find salamanders. Rainy spring and fall nights encourage salamanders to come out of hiding and head to local breeding areas, typically ponds and wetlands.
Other than these short moves, salamanders and newts tend to be stationary animals, with most species geographically defined. The Southeast part of the United States ranks among the most diverse salamander areas of the world. Check with local experts to discover the specific species in your area.
The salamanders listed in the box are West Coast species. Please click on a link to learn more.