Salamander: All About This Elusive Animal

As the most striking common characteristic, it should be noted that both reptiles have the amazing ability to regenerate their severed limbs, such as when they are injured when fleeing from a predator

With the naked eye, it can be easy to confuse lizards and salamanders. However, they are very different species with different habitats, diets, daily habits and physical characteristics. Next, we will see better the similarities and differences between lizards and salamanders.

A little more about lizards

Lizards are reptiles belonging to the lacértidae family, to which lizards, chameleons and iguanas also belong. Its different species comprise the largest suborder of reptiles living today.

They have a cylindrical body, covered by shiny and smooth scales, a conical head, eyes with mobile lids, and ears with external openings.

Lizards show dry skin, so they usually avoid direct contact with water. However, they are able to swim quite easily when necessary, just like most reptiles.

A very typical characteristic of these reptiles is the ability to detach from their tail to escape the attack of a predator; the new queue will never be identical to the original. This skill called autotomy is made possible by the presence of special rupture planes in their caudal vertebrae.

Getting to know salamanders better

Many people think that salamanders are reptiles too, just like lizards. However, these curious animals are amphibians that belong to the order caudata, which means ‘with a tail’. According to specialists, there are more than 300 species of salamanders distributed in 10 different families.

Its body is long and shows striking shades of black and yellow  – aposematic coloration – that warn of possible predators.

Salamanders demonstrate incredible speed in capturing small insects for food. In addition to the above, salamanders have an admirable regenerative capacity that allows them to recover amputated limbs.

Unlike lizards, a salamander’s skin is soft, delicate, and needs to maintain a certain level of moisture. In addition, they tend to attract attention for the lively colors of their skin, in shades of black and yellow.

Despite this visual fact, it should not be forgotten that this attractive appearance hides small venom glands that function as a natural defense against possible predators.

Differences between lizards and salamanders

As we have seen previously, lizards and salamanders are very different animals both in their behavior and in their appearance. And to make recognizing them even easier, we summarize the main differences below:

• Body shape

Salamanders have long, slender bodies, have a tail, and a blunt face. Sizes vary by species: while the Chinese giant salamander is over six feet, others are no more than 20 centimeters in length.

Meanwhile, lizards have small, cylindrical bodies that rarely exceed eight inches in length. Although the giant species of the Solomon Islands can reach 24 inches. Their characteristic tails are tapered, that is, they have a cylindrical and elongated shape.

• Structure and appearance of the skin

Lizard skin is smooth and dry, made up of overlapping shiny scales. Some species are transparent in appearance, while others may have bands or stripes on their bodies. And many are uniform in color.

Salamander skin is remarkably moist and has very characteristic colors (black and yellow). All species secrete a little from their skin to keep their skin moist.

• Diet and eating habits

The vast majority of lizards are carnivorous and insectivorous, but some also hunt mice and small lizards. And there are also some rare species that maintain a herbivorous diet ; It must be taken into account that they all have small, wide and polished teeth.

Like lizards, salamanders are carnivorous but have a more varied diet. They can consume frogs, fish, insects and are even capable of eating other salamanders.

• Habitat and natural habits

Salamanders maintain nocturnal feeding habits and live near or in water. In their natural habitat they usually hide in terrestrial caves or under the humid leaf litter, emerging just after sunset. In addition, they tend to attract attention due to the great speed with which they catch their prey and feed.

Lizards are usually more active than salamanders during the day, but they also maintain certain nocturnal habits. Most of the species are terrestrial and avoid direct contact with water; curiously some species can live in trees.