Types of Salamanders

Exploring the Different Types of Salamanders

What is a salamander? There are a whopping 500 species of amphibians that can be classified as salamanders. Salamanders are similar in shape and size to lizards - with a slender body and long tail. What differentiates them from the typical lizard? Salamanders won't always have four limbs, and can often be seen slithering along without them. They are also commonly brightly colored, although underground species may simply be white or pink in color.

Let's take a look at some of the more common species of salamander.

Tiger Salamander

The Tiger salamander (Ambystoma Tigrinum), can reach lengths of a foot and longer, and is frequently colored with a yellow variation of spots and stripes. You'll find the Tiger salamander in the continental U.S. as well as parts of Mexico, hiding in mountaneous and lowland areas. They tend to avoid the water, preferring the shelter of rocks and boulders.

What does a Tiger salamander eat? Tiger salamanders will eat small insects, worms, snails, etc. - pretty much anything that crawls along the ground.

What is a Tiger salamander's reproductive behavior? This is one of the few times that a male Tiger salamander will approach the water - to attract a female. After a short 24 hours following the transfer of the salamander's spermatophores, the female will lay over one thousand eggs, which can take up to two weeks to develop.

Flatwoods Salamander

The Flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) is much smaller than the Tiger salamander, measuring in at a mere 1/3 of a foot on average. It lives primarily in the Southwestern U.S., in pine forests, and will lay eggs that develop in three to five weeks.

Northwestern Salamander

The Northwestern salamander (Ambystoma gracile) measures in somewhere between the Tiger and Flatwoods salamanders, at just over half a foot. You'll find it in the Northwestern U.S., as well as parts of Canada, in particular British Columbia. Unlike the Tiger salamander, the Northwestern salamander prefers wet and damp areas. It's eggs develop in two to four weeks, and reach maturity in 1 to 2 years.

Jefferson Salamander

The Jefferson salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) measures in at about the same length as the Northwestern salamander, at just over half a foot. It also lives in the Northwestern U.S and Canada, likes the water and lives in forests as well. It's eggs take a bit longer to develop - four to six weeks, but typically reach maturity in just under half a year.

Long-Toed Salamander

The Long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) also lives in the Northwestern USA and Canada. It prefers deciduous, green areas. The long-toed salamander eggs develop in two to six months and reach maturity in six months to a year.