Salamanders are one of the unique amphibians inhabiting the world today. They play an important role in many ecosystems, and they are both aquatic and terrestrial lifestyles, which prefer being near bodies of water or moist habitats. All of them also need to be near water to lay eggs. Additionally, the largest location with the highest salamander diversity in the world is the United States. Seven out of the eight families of salamanders are exclusively found in the country.
Facts About Salamanders
In comparison to frogs, salamanders can be distinguished through the presence of a tail during all the stages of their life. During every one of the life stages of these salamanders, salamanders are only consuming tiny invertebrates and are generally carnivorous. They reproduce their young both internally and externally, just like other amphibian species.
Salamanders also serve as an important role in ecological rooms, specifically because of their transitional lifestyle. These species can detect pollution and serve as environmental indicators. These salamanders also support and have stability in maintaining their space in the ecological food chain, both in terrestrial settings and in an aquatic setting.
At present, the current number of salamanders are around 500 individuals. From this count, about 30 percent of this is species that are native to the United States. Specifically, the eastern United States has the healthiest and most special salamander diversity on the planet, where they survive and reside as some of the unique creatures on the planet.
Salamanders can naturally be found in different habitats, including caves, forests, marshes, streams, and more. Within these types of living enclosures, these salamanders play a stabilizing role for different living organisms in their ecosystem. If you can imagine a world without these creatures, it would change how many other plants and animals exist.
Population Threats
Salamanders are known to have sensitive porous skin, and because of this characteristic, they are one of the most prone to become extinct in the near future. In fact, according to some biologists, salamanders are facing the threat of a rapid population decline.
The most common reasons for their demise are pollution, habitat loss, and invasive diseases. The United States is a marker for the diversity of amphibians, so there is indeed a special imperative need for the preservation of amphibians.
Species of Salamanders in the United States
In this article, you will learn about the salamander families that can be found in the United States. These come in different options for sizes, colors, and other unique characteristics that make them some of the most remarkable species to fight for their preservations.
Amphiuma Salamanders
Throughout Florida, Mississipi, and Virginia, these species of salamanders can be found surviving, even after going through hurricanes and heavy downpours. At present, there are three current subspecies that are living a completely aquatic lifestyle. Depending on the water quality and weather conditions, these salamanders can be found on land in comparison to the marshes, swamps, and ditches that they usually frequent. They have been documented to live in rivers and streams.
At present, these people are currently listed as species of least concern of extinction. But, their actual populations are still not understood with lacking information.
These species of salamander is exclusive to the United States.
Hellbender Salamander
Also known as the Cryptobranchidea species, these salamanders are the largest amphibians known to live in the United States. They can grow for over a foot long as an adult. In terms of physical appearance, they are generally flat with some wrinkled and folded skins. But like all giant salamanders, these creatures prefer a lifestyle that is more aquatic in species.
For their natural habitat, they prefer living in the mountainous streams in the Great Smoky Mountains and the remaining areas of the Eastern United States. Because of the high number of salamander populations in this area, this region even gained the special tagline of “the salamander capital of the world.”
Hellbender salamanders blend perfectly with their rocky habitat. They change color from brown to grey colors so that they will be meant to look like a rock. Additionally, there are about two exclusive species of the hellbender salamander, and both of these species need high water quality so that they will survive. Unlike some other salamander species, these animals breathe through their skin in the water.
Unfortunately, these salamander species have no current number total in the wild. In the US government records, their population is listed as near-threatened. Because of this listing, the hellbender salamanders are granted protection. Many programs of captive breeding conversation are credited as the greatest conservation effort for this species.
Siren Salamander
Siren salamanders, scientifically known as Sirenidae, can be difficult to observe because of their unique way of living. These individuals are commonly spotted in the Florida Everglades, and these siren salamanders share a close range with the Amphiuma salamanders. Like the aforementioned species, they live full aquatic daily routines in creeks, ditches, lakes, marshes, streams, and rivers.
When the water dries out, these salamanders burrow in the mud for avoiding desiccation with the cocoon-like mucus that will protect their skin. It can be difficult to study and monitor this species because their lifestyles are generally elusive. But, if you are interested in their population, they are currently threatened with diseases, urban development, habitat loss, and pollution.
Jemez Mountain Salamander
This species of salamander is found on the Jemez Mountain in New Mexico, USA. These salamanders live a terrestrial life full-time. Scientifically known as Plethodontidae but commonly known as lungless salamanders, these individuals are known for breathing using their skin. For the oxygen needs of their bodies, these creatures depend on a moist environment.
Physically, they have a thin and elongated body. Their foot is made up of a form of webbing which they use to help them move around. They are endangered and rare, and the protection for this species is already at the federal level. Lots of amazing conservation projects are working to save the species with captive breeding.
Alabama Waterdog
Scientifically known as Proteidae, the Alabama Waterdog is also called as mudpuppies. These species also have bushy-like gills that they keep on their bodies even as an adult. Basically, these species are seen as a fully grown larva. These salamanders are also seen as rare and unique within their natural ranges, and partial data and research are available for their conservation.
For their natural habitat, these salamander individuals are found only in Alabama, specifically, the Black Warrior River drainage system. At present, these salamanders are seen as endangered species, as well as a species of Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered.
Marbled Salamander
Marbled salamanders are known from their black and white colors and their chubby bodies. They are known to live in the southeast region of the United States. They live a seemingly fossorial life, and as their self-defense, they have poison glands in their tails so that they can ward off predators.
Locals also call them mole salamanders, and they spend most of their life under the soil. Most of the time, these salamanders prefer to live in wetlands, swamps, and marshes. They also rely on ephemeral and fishless ponds to reproduce and lay their eggs. Then, the mother salamanders stay living with their young until the rain fills up their surroundings and fertilizes the eggs.
At present, the marbled salamanders are seen to be quite common, but their count can be damaged by habitat loss and climate change.
Red-Bellied Newt
Simply tagged as newts, the Salamandridae species are known for their vibrant colors. They are born in the water, and they develop into a terrestrial lifestyle when they age and mature as adults. The red-bellied newts are known to stay in their natural habitat living in redwood forests and coastal woodlands along the coasts of Northern California.
These species of salamanders are known for becoming relatively small, and as their self-defense, they have a potent and poisonous defense secretion in their skin. This poison can be deadly to a wide range of animals, but experts believe that the garter snake, which is their common predator, has developed a high resistance to this kind of defense mechanism.
The red-bellied newts have rough skin aside from the usual smooth and slimy seen in this species. Though they spend their early days living in the water, they develop life on land as well. But eventually, these newts come back into the water when it is time for them to breed and reproduce.
At present, these species are tagged as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List, but they are protected by California State Law.
Tiger Salamander
The Tiger Salamanders are considered as one of the most interactive amphibian species. They come in a wide range of colors. Sometimes, they are seen with yellow stripes on a black and dark brown background. Sometimes, they exhibit a black skin with some orange spots.
These species are usually found living in the shores of the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast of the continental United States of America. They also reside in Mexico and southern Canada. They are very common in existence, even battling the population of the American Bullfrog.
