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What is a salamander? |
Have you ever wondered what exactly a salamander is? Well, let's start with how they look: Most salamanders have four legs, smooth skin, and short bodies--between 4 and 6 inches long. (One kind, the Chinese giant salamander, can grow to be almost six feet long!) Many tend to have short noses and long tails. They’re often brightly colored, and their skin can be poisonous to other species. Because they’re amphibians, the skin of a salamander is generally damp, since most spend time in the water. Some salamanders only live on land, generally in shady areas.
Some species of salamanders have lungs; others breathe through gills, which let them breathe in the water. One kind actually breathes through its skin! Many salamanders have small teeth; and some have a sticky tongue that helps them capture prey to eat. They eat insects, worms, fish, snails, and even small animals. When they’re attacked by a predator, some salamanders have an amazing way of keeping from becoming prey themselves—their tails drop off so the salamander can either run away or stay very still. The tail actually grows back!
Over 400 species of amphibians with tails belong to the group called salamanders. (They're known as Caudata by scientists.) Ten different “families” belong in this category, ranging from newts to mudpuppies to actual salamanders!
Did you know?
Many myths associate the salamander with being able to live in a fire or put out fire; some say that it was born in fire.
