Salamanders | Salamandridae
Salamandridae is a family of small to medium terrestrial or aquatic salamanders and newts in the amphibian class. Most species in the salamandridae family have brightly colored skin that excretes toxins through its numerous poision glands. Due to the number of poison glands, Salamandridae are considered to have rough textured skin. Salamandridae typically give birth to live young, that do not have a tadpole stage. Salamandridae are found in North America, Asia, Europe, and Northern Africa. Salamandriae have four well developed limbs, some develop dorsal and tail fins, and juveniles and adults have developed lungs.
Salamanders are carnivorous and their diet depends on their age, species, and habitat. Young salamanders eat microorganisms in pond water, tubiflex worms, and mosquito larvae. Once they are 2 months old, they eat the same diet as an adult salamander. Adult salamanders are not picky and usually eat maggots, mysis, springtails, buffalo worms, fruit-flies, and crickets.
Salamanders reproduce via the female salamander fertilizing the eggs by picking up spermatophore from ground or water where it was left by the male. The fertilized eggs are then placed in water or land depending on the species and produce larvae. A salamander is able to place up to 450 eggs in water.
Salamanders can be found in the Americas, most frequently in North America, as well as the temperate zones of Northern Africa, Asia, and Europe. They typically live in damp areas around streams under stones, logs, and leaves in moist habitats.
