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Red Eft
Photograph by George Grall
The red eft can be found in woodland habitats throughout eastern North America. The salamander hatches and reproduces in water but spends the juvenile stage of its life on land, where its bright orange or red coloring warns predators of its unpalatable taste.
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Common Fire Salamander
Photograph by Joel Sartore
The common fire salamander is found throughout central and southern Europe in cool forests where it can find shade and moisture. Though the general population is considered stable, some local populations have declined due to habitat and other threats.
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Spotted Salamander
Photograph by John Cancalosi
Bright yellow spots distinguish the secretive spotted salamander, which spends most of its life hidden in dark, damp places. Ranging from eastern Canada throughout the eastern and midwestern United States, the spotted salamander’s numbers are generally stable but sensitive to changes in its ecology. Rising water acidity in certain habitats, habitat loss, and the pet trade are negatively affecting its population.
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Kaiser’s Spotted Newt
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Endemic to a small region in Iran, the Kaiser’s spotted newt may number fewer than a thousand in the wild and has come under particular threat from international pet trades conducted over the Internet. The rate of decline from this threat has been estimated to be as much as 80 percent in recent years, and the salamander is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
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Marbled Newt
Photograph by Joel Sartore
This newt gets its name from the marbled green and black markings on its body. It is large among newts and is found in parts of Spain, Portugal, and France, where it inhabits woodland areas with access to the ponds or other water sources it frequently visits as juveniles and adults.
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Red-Backed Salamander
Photograph by George Grall
The red-backed salamander—which gets its name from the red stripe that often appears along the length of its back—is unusual among salamanders in that it spends its life on land and, having no lungs, breathes through its skin.
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European Fire Salamander
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Found in central and southern Europe and in parts of the Middle East and northern Africa, the European fire salamander is distinguished by bright coloration that may include markings of black, yellow, and orange. Like many salamanders, it spends much of its time in hiding where there is shade, moisture, and protection from predators.
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Blue-Tailed Fire-Bellied Newt
Photograph by Joel Sartore
The blue-tailed fire-bellied newt—photographed here at the Saint Louis Zoo in Missouri—is also known as the Chuxiong fire-bellied newt. It is found in China and distinguished by a bright-orange belly and tail that may become bluish in color.
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Mudpuppy
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Among the largest of the salamanders, mudpuppies live on the bottoms of lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, and never leave the water. Mudpuppies are one of only a few salamanders that make noise. They get their name from the somewhat embellished notion that their squeaky vocalizations sound like a dog's bark.
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Mudpuppy
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Mudpuppies are easily distinguishable by their bushy, red external gills, which they grow as larvae and never lose. They have flat heads, wide tails, stubby legs, and feet with four distinct toes. Their bodies are gray or brownish-gray with blue-black spots.
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Taliang Knobby Newt
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Found in parts of China’s Sichuan Province, the Taliang knobby newt is listed as near threatened by the IUCN. Though not uncommon in the narrow range in which it’s found, the newt is under threat from collection for use in traditional Chinese medicine and—less frequently—the international pet trade.
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