Salamanders may have four legs and a tail like lizards, but they are not reptiles at all. They are amphibians, like frogs and caecilians. They are members of the order Caudata (from Latin caudatus, or “tailed”), and biologists often refer to them as “caudates.” The United States has more salamander species than any other country. Some salamanders are terrestrial (living on land except to breed), and some are aquatic (living their lives in the water). Some newts switch between the two—they live in the water when young, then live on land for a time (called an “eft” during this stage), and then return to being aquatic.
This lesson is part of Certified Herpetological Guide. Enrollment is self-paced, with no deadline to finish (about 50 hours).
