salamanders

Salamanders are amphibians in the order Caudata (also called Urodela). They typically have slender bodies, long tails, and moist, smooth skin. Most species possess four limbs of similar size, though some are reduced or absent in highly aquatic forms. Adults range from a few centimeters to over one meter in length. The group is diverse, with about 700 described species, distributed across the temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, with additional tropical representatives in Central and South America.

Salamanders occupy diverse habitats, including forests, grasslands, and streams. They require moist conditions to prevent desiccation, and many species depend on freshwater for reproduction. Some live primarily underground or in leaf litter, while others are closely tied to aquatic environments.

Most salamanders reproduce sexually, with eggs laid in water or in moist environments. The larvae are typically aquatic, possessing gills, a tail fin, and external development that mirrors the aquatic juvenile stage. Some species undergo metamorphosis into terrestrial or semi-aquatic adults. A notable subset exhibits paedomorphosis, retaining larval features such as gills as adults, as seen in the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum).

Adult salamanders are primarily carnivorous, feeding on invertebrates and small vertebrates. They have permeable skin that can absorb oxygen and water, making skin moisture essential. Some groups possess toxin-producing glands as a defense against predators.

Threats include habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and disease. Conservation status varies by species; some are endangered or critically endangered. Axolotls are widely studied in biology and kept as pets, though wild populations in Mexico are threatened.