Ezra 
Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum), also called yellow-spotted salamanders, are secretive amphibians found throughout much of the eastern United States and Canada. These salamanders are occasionally sold as pets but are somewhat rare because they are protected in large portions of their natural range. Like many amphibians, Spotted salamanders produce poisonous skin secretions that make them taste … Read more
In the winter, we do not see many newts and salamanders. This is because they are ectothermic (cold-blooded) animals, meaning they can not regulate their internal body temperature. When the environmental temperatures rise or fall, so does their internal temperature. So where do newts go in the winter? All newts hibernate to protect themselves from … Read more
Salamanders are intriguing creatures that attract the curiosity of many people. They also tend to be very secretive, so they are not frequently encountered most times of the year. Because of this, there are many misconceptions about these beautiful animals. Most salamander species have tiny teeth in both their upper and lower jaws. However, arboreal … Read more
The Fire salamander is the largest, and possibly the best-known salamander species in Europe. These salamanders live throughout Southern, Central, and Eastern Europe with some subspecies being found as far as North Africa. They are characterized by their glossy black body with yellow patches or stripes. Fire salamanders have large parotid glands behind the eyes … Read more
Newts are semi-aquatic animals, which means they live both on land and in the water. They have different ways of breathing in each of these unique environments. On land, they breathe using their lungs, just like us. In the water, they breathe through a process known as cutaneous respiration (breathing through the skin). Newts can … Read more
Red-back salamanders (also called redback salamanders) are common across the eastern and central United States. These salamanders are usually found in forest areas but often wander into people’s backyards. You may have seen one of these salamanders and wondered if they are poisonous. Red-backed salamanders are very mildly poisonous. They have glands that secrete a … Read more