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Salamander
Salamander Facts
| Kingdom: Five groups that classify all living things | Animalia |
| Phylum: A group of animals within the animal kingdom | Chordata |
| Class: A group of animals within a pylum | Amphibia |
| Order: A group of animals within a class | Caudata |
| Family: A group of animals within an order | Salamandroidea |
| Scientific Name: The name of the animal in science | Caudata |
| Type: The animal group that the species belongs to | Amphibian |
| Diet: What kind of foods the animal eats | Carnivore |
| Size: How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is | 2-180cm (0.8-71in) |
| Weight: The measurement of how heavy the animal is | 0.1-65kg (0.2-143lbs) |
| Top Speed: The fastest recorded speed of the animal | 42km/h (30mph) |
| Lifespan: How long the animal lives for | 5-20 years |
| Lifestyle: Whether the animal is solitary or sociable | Solitary |
| Conservation Status: The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct | Threatened |
| Colour: The colour of the animal's coat or markings | Brown, Green, Black, Yellow, Red, White |
| Skin Type: The protective layer of the animal | Permeable Scales |
| Favourite Food: The preferred food of this animal | Fish |
| Habitat: The specific area where the animal lives | Rainforest, streams and wetlands |
| Average Litter Size: The average number of babies born at once | 300 |
| Main Prey: The food that the animal gains energy from | Fish, Mice, Insects |
| Predators: Other animals that hunt and eat the animal | Fish, Snakes, Birds |
| Special Features: Characteristics unique to this animal | Flattened head and body and small eyes |
Salamander Location
Salamander
A salamander is an amphibian that has four legs, a long and slender body and a long tail. Despite their lizard-like appearance, salamanders are most closely related to the smaller amphibious lizard, the newt.Salamanders are found all over the world generally in more temperate climates. All species of salamander are aquatic or semi-aquatic due to their amphibious nature and permeable skin. The moist skin of the salamander means that the salamander inhabits aquatic regions or wetlands.
There are more than 700 different species of recognised salamander worldwide from the smaller species of newt to the Chinese Giant salamander which can grow to nearly 2 meters long. All species of salamander look very similar in appearance but as with lizards, different species of salamander can have less limbs than normal meaning that some species of salamander have a more eel-like appearance.
In a similar way to newts and lizards, the salamander is remarkably able to regenerate and regrow lost limbs and sometimes other body parts too. This gives the salamander an advantage when being hunted by predators as the salamander is able to drop body parts and escape.
Most species of salamander are brightly coloured, particularly the male salamanders during the breeding season, when their colours become brighter and more intense in order to try to attract a female. Those species of salamander that live underground are often either white or pink in colour due to the fact that their skin is never exposed to the sun.
The skin of salamanders secretes mucus, which helps keep the animal moist when on dry land, and maintains their salt balance while in water, as well as providing a lubricant during swimming. Salamanders also secrete poison from glands in their skin, and some additionally have skin glands for secreting courtship pheromones.
Salamander population numbers have been dramatically decreasing possibly due to levels of fungus that is increasingly present in the water. It is unknown as to whether or not this is the reason for the decreasing salamander numbers but pollution levels are also thought to have played a big part.
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First Published: 18th November 2008, Last Updated: 24th January 2020
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