Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis)

The Hellbender is the largest aquatic salamander in North America. This species has adapted to the fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams in the Eastern United States, which it navigates easily due to its unique body shape. Its flattened body can reach up to 29 inches long. 

The Hellbender hides under rocks during the day and comes out to hunt for food at night. Its diet mainly consists of crayfish, but can also eat small fish, insects, and other salamanders. 

Moreover, its blotchy brown skin provides excellent camouflage against the riverbed. It is covered in a slimy mucus that acts as a respiratory organ, allowing the salamander to absorb oxygen directly from the water.

Chinese Giant Salamander (Andrias davidianus)

The Chinese Giant Salamander is the world's largest amphibian, found in the streams and lakes of China. It can stretch up to almost 6 feet in length, second only to the largest amphibian which is discussed in the next section. 

They are active at night and feed on insects, frogs, crabs, and fish. Sometimes, they resort to cannibalism. Since they have poor eyesight, they have a built-in vibrational sensor called the lateral line system that helps them locate prey and avoid danger. 

Interestingly, they make sounds resembling a baby crying, so locals in China call them "baby fish.” Despite this endearing name and their huge size, Chinese Giant Salamanders have the IUCN Critically Endangered status due to habitat destruction and overhunting7.

Japanese Giant Salamander (Andrias japonicus)

The Japanese Giant Salamander lives in Japan's mountainous landscapes. Its crinkled and coarse skin helps it blend in with the rocks in its watery habitat. Like other salamanders in the Andrias genus, it is large, reaching up to 5 feet.

These types of salamanders are nocturnal creatures that rely on their sense of smell and touch to hunt for fish, insects, worms, and small mammals. During the breeding season, males become aggressive and fiercely guard their nesting sites, which can hold up to 500 eggs.

Persian Mountain Salamander (Paradactylodon persicus)

The Persian Mountain Salamander inhabits the temperate rainforests at the southwestern rim of Iran's Caspian Sea. It has a rectangular head and rounded tail, typically longer than the rest of its body.

These Asiatic salamanders sport a dark hue speckled with irregular yellow spots. These salamanders present carnivorous traits throughout their lives, feasting on arthropods and other small animals within their shared environment.

Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)

Tiger Salamanders are mole salamanders that can reach up to 14 inches long. It has dark skin with bright yellow or olive-colored blotches and is found in various habitats across North America.

Native tiger salamanders are reported in the northern and eastern U.S. and are regarded as relict populations. Conversely, the west coast hosts non-native species, resulting from using larval salamanders as fishing bait4, causing hybridization.

They spend their days concealed in burrows, under rocks or logs, emerging only at night. Their diet includes invertebrates such as worms, insects, slugs, and sometimes even small mammals, reptiles, or amphibians. 

During the spring mating season, males deposit a spermatophore on the ground, which females use to fertilize their eggs. Most salamander species use this reproductive method. Afterward, the fertilized eggs attach to vegetation in shallow bodies of water, and the larvae transform into terrestrial adults over the next few months.

Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)

The Spotted Salamander, also called Yellow-spotted Salamander, lives in the forests of eastern North America. Their yellow or orange spots warn predators of their toxicity and help them blend in with the forest floor. 

Moreover, they are active at night, eating insects and other invertebrates, which helps keep pest populations in check. They mostly live underground and will come out to eat or breed.

Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)

The Marbled Salamander is a visually appealing species inhabiting the deciduous forests in the eastern United States. This species demonstrates sexual dimorphism - females typically showcase light grey bands, while males present strikingly white ones.

They live near bodies of water, frequently burrowing under rocks or logs. When threatened, they curl their tails to expose their bright underside, secreting a mild toxin. Other defense mechanisms include the coiling of bodies and the lashing of tails.

Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)

Axolotls are critically endangered salamanders living in the lakes and canals around Xochimilco in Mexico. Unlike most salamanders, they are neotenic, which means they spend their entire lives in larval form. 

Axolotls have a distinctive silhouette, broad heads, lidless eyes, finned tails, and external gills. Wild axolotls sport dark tones, while leucistic varieties have a pale or golden coloration.

California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense)

The California Tiger Salamander is endemic to California's grasslands and vernal pools. It is one of the largest species in its family, growing to 7-8 inches. 

Since they are mole salamanders, they spend most of their lives in burrows and migrate to temporary pools during the rainy season to lay their eggs. The larvae remain underwater for a few months until they transform into land-dwelling adults. 

Their diet consists of small invertebrates, and they have a unique defense mechanism when threatened. They also regulate the insect population in their ecosystem.

Pacific Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus)

The Pacific Giant Salamander, a large species endemic to the Pacific Northwest in North America, can grow up to 13.4 inches. It typically has dark brown to black backs, adorned by light brown spots or marbling, and lighter underbellies.

This salamander prefers semi-aquatic habitats, favoring small-to-mid-sized streams and riverside forests.

Pacific Giant Salamanders get vocal if disturbed, emitting a distinct "bark." Adopting a defensive pose, it arches its body, thrashes its tail, and when the need arises, repels predators by secreting a noxious substance. Adults can also head-butt and bite.

Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

The Red-backed Salamander mostly lives on land, mainly on the forest floors of eastern North America. It has a bright red or orange stripe on its body that helps it blend in with the leaf litter. Another morph called Lead Salamanders shows no red pigmentations. Both have speckled undersides.

Interestingly, it is a part of the Plethodontidae family, which comprises lungless salamanders. Their respiration method is breathing through their skin and mouth. 

These terrestrial salamanders primarily feed on insects such as centipedes, spiders, and snails.

Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)

The Northern Slimy Salamander is also known as the Viscid Salamander, Grey-spotted Salamander, or Sticky Salamander. It lives in the leaf-strewn forests in the Northeastern United States. It has a long, slim body with dark hues and silver or white specks on its skin. 

This lungless salamander primarily feeds on ants and beetles. Since it is a terrestrial species, it skips the aquatic larval stage of development. It prefers to live alone and only interacts during the mating season. 

Northern slimy salamanders secrete adhesive-bound substances, impeding attackers' movement and biting capacity. They also respond to threats with body flips, tail lashes, and vocalizations.

Southern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon grobmani)

The Southern Slimy Salamander lives in the southeastern United States, from southern South Carolina to central Florida. The salamander is named after Arnold B. Grobmani, a zoologist who studied these creatures.

It is black or brown, covered with white or silver spots, and feeds primarily on small invertebrates. Similar to its northern cousins, its unique defense mechanism involves secreting a sticky substance when threatened.

Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)

The Eastern Newt, living in eastern North America, inhabits small lakes, ponds, streams, and adjoining wet forests. It is also called the Red-spotted Newt.

It has a unique three-stage life cycle; it begins as aquatic larvae, transforms into land-dwelling juveniles known as 'efts,' and eventually returns to the water as mature adults. During the eft stage, their skin turns bright orange-red, which warns predators about the toxic chemicals in their skin. 

The eastern newt secretes tetrodotoxin, providing a chemical defense against predatory fishes and invertebrates. However, bullfrogs are unaffected by the toxin and readily consume the creature. Therefore, newts still sustain high predation levels2 in fish-containing habitats due to bullfrogs.

Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber)

The Red Salamander lives in the slow-moving waters, tranquil springs, swamps, and damp woodland terrains of the eastern United States. 

These lungless salamanders, varying in color from bright red to orange-brown, darken and lose their distinct patterns with age. Unlike mud salamanders, they have more and larger dorsal spots, a gold-tinted iris with a horizontal bar, and a more pointed snout.

Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra)

Fire Salamanders have black skin and bright yellow or orange markings, which deter predators. They live in the forests of Central and Southern Europe, where they spend their days hiding in logs, rocks, or burrows. 

Its main toxin, samandarin, triggers severe muscle convulsions, hypertension, and hyperventilation in vertebrates. Further analysis of its skin secretions revealed another alkaloid called samandarone5.

Alpine Salamander (Salamandra atra)

The Alpine Salamander lives in the European Alps and is distinguishable by its jet-black body. It has adapted to the region's rugged peaks and lush forests, with altitudes ranging from 2,300 to 6,600 feet. 

Interestingly, Alpine salamanders follow the viviparous reproductive method6, which allows them to give birth to live young. This is a trait uncommon in other amphibians.

Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus)

The Northern Dusky Salamander, a resident of eastern North America from New Brunswick to South Carolina, adapts its living environments depending on its geographic location. 

In the north, it thrives in rocky woodland streams, seepage, and springs, while in the south, it gravitates toward upland stream sloughs, floodplains, and muddy areas. 

The lungless salamander sports an upper body hue shifting from reddish-brown to gray or olive and a white or gray underside sprinkled with dark spots. Variously colored stripes embellish its body and tail. 

Its diet depends on what's available, reflecting its nature as a feeding generalist. Despite being prone to predation, its ability for tail autonomy offers some level of protection, compensating for its lack of chemical defense mechanisms.

Holbrook's Southern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus auriculatus)

The Holbrook's Southern Dusky Salamander is endemic to the southeastern United States. Thriving in swampy areas with tannic waters near ponds, streams, or river flood plains, these creatures follow a largely nocturnal lifestyle. 

These lungless salamanders have stout bodies, relatively larger back legs, and a row of white spots lining each side of their bodies. Their color varies, ranging from dark brown to black, often accompanied by white-flecked undersides and lighter patches running down their backs. 

Since they look so similar to Northern and Spotted Duskies, you can only tell them apart by where they live.

Southern Torrent Salamander (Rhyacotriton variegatus)

The Southern Torrent Salamander, being a native of the Pacific Northwest, lives in high-oxygen, slow-flowing aquatic environments like mountain brooks and seeps for survival. With the lowest desiccation tolerance among North American salamanders, it struggles with extreme temperatures and low moisture levels.

Adorned with brown shades and darker spots on the dorsal side, it presents a slightly yellowish hue on the ventral side. Metallic flecks further highlight its forward-facing, large, dark eyes.

Amphipods and springtails make up their main diet. This pattern is consistent throughout their life stages, including the larval stage. On the other hand, natural threats to Southern Torrent Salamanders include the Pacific giant salamanders, garter snakes, and salmonid fishes.