A salamander's life runs a lot like a frog's, with a few twists. Photos in this lesson are by Todd Pierson. Unlike frogs, most salamanders fertilize their eggs inside the female's body. The male leaves a small packet of sperm on the ground or the pond bottom, and the female picks it up with her vent. So salamanders do not need a mating hug the way frogs do. Salamander eggs are usually laid in water, but not always. Some species lay them under logs or in damp leaves, and some mothers curl around their eggs and guard them until they hatch. The babies hatch with a tail and feathery gills sticking out from the sides of the head.
This lesson is part of Certified Junior Herpetologist. Enrollment is self-paced, with no deadline to finish (about 30 hours).
