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21 Examples of Salamanders in North America

Salamanders in North America are very diverse, with the United States hosting more species than anywhere else in the world. Although they’re less frequently seen than other types of amphibians like frogs, they are widespread and thrive in habitats like dense forests, clear streams, and marshy wetlands. Salamanders play essential roles in ecosystems as both predators and prey. The highest concentration of salamanders in the United States is in the Appalachian Mountains, especially in areas like Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

While many of the nearly 200 salamander species found in this part of the world may appear similar, each one is unique and belongs to one of three distinct groups. This article will explore these three types and highlight some of the most common and interesting species in North America.

Before looking at just a handful of the most common and well-known types of salamanders North America, it helps to understand the difference between these three types.

3 Main Types of Salamanders

1. Advanced Salamanders

Fire salamanders
Fire salamander

Scientific name: Various families, primarily Salamandridae, Plethodontidae, and Ambystomatidae

Advanced salamanders, primarily from the Salamandridae family, include both true salamanders and newts, which are frequently found in the United States. These small amphibians have skin toxins that protect them from predators. Most types of advanced salamanders have fully formed lungs, though some may rely on gills or be lungless.

Examples of advanced salamander species include:

  • Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)
  • Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)

2. Giant Salamanders

Hellbender
Hellbender | image by Brian Gratwicke via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Dicamptodontidae (North American species) and Cryptobranchidae (Hellbender)

Giant salamanders, from the family Dicamptodontidae, are the largest types of land-dwelling salamanders and are mostly found in the western United States, near streams and in woodlands. Some types of giant salamanders can grow up to a few feet long. Giant salamanders are less common than advanced salamanders and sirens in North America.

Examples of giant salamander species include:

  • Pacific Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus)
  • Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis)

3. Sirens

Lesser sirens
Lesser Siren | image by Peter Paplanus via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Sirenidae

Sirenoidea salamanders, called sirens, belong to the family Sirenidae. These salamanders retain their larval traits into adulthood (a process called paedomorphosis), keeping both lungs and gills for breathing. They also use a horned beak instead of teeth and do not have hind legs.

Types of siren salamanders include:

  • Reticulated sirens
  • Dwarf sirens
  • Greater sirens
  • Lesser sirens

21 examples of salamanders in North America

As mentioned, North America has around 190 species of salamanders. These amphibians can be found from Mexico to Alaska and along both the east and west coasts of the United States. Salamanders mainly feed on insects like mosquitos, ticks, and flies… but they may also eat worms, spiders, or fish.

This list looks at 21 common salamanders in North America to give you an idea of what these amazing animals look like, where they live, and the unique adaptations that help them thrive in diverse habitats across the continent.

1. Eastern tiger salamander

eastern tiger salamander
eastern tiger salamander | credit: USFWS Mountain-Prairie via Flickr

Scientific name: Ambystoma tigrinum

The eastern tiger salamander can be frequently spotted in areas throughout North America. They thrive in marshes, forests, and wetlands, and prefer to live near ponds.

These salamanders also create burrows underground where they spend a lot of their time. Eastern tiger salamanders have one of the widest distributions of any other North American salamander.

They have thick bodies with dark skin and yellow markings. These amphibians have a wide range in central and eastern North America and can be found from Mexico to southern Canada. Despite having such a wide range, these salamanders are listed as endangered in some regions.

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2. Eastern newt

Eastern newt
Eastern Newt | image by Peter Paplanus via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Notophthalmus viridescens

The eastern newt is common throughout many areas of North America but is more common in the east, which is where their name comes from. These are one of the 4 primary species of newts found in North America.

They are born in ponds but will spend many years exploring forests. This happens during what is called the red-eft stage, but some eastern newts do not go through this phase of life. Western newts on the other hand are common along the west coast and not closely related to this species other than the fact that they are both in the salamander family. 

3. Hellbender

hellbender giant salamander
Hellbender | image by Brian Gratwicke via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Cryptobranchus alleganiensis

One of the least commonly seen salamanders in North America is the hellbender. They aren’t considered common, but they’re very interesting and worth including on this list due to their massive size. 

These giant salamanders are very elusive and have stout legs with a flat tail that looks like a rudder, which is helpful when they need to swim. Hellbenders are aquatic and spend almost their entire lives in the water in rivers of the eastern U.S.

They tend to have gray or dark colorings and are sometimes seen with peppered black spots. The lower sides of these salamanders have loose flaps of skin hanging from them, adding to the distinctive features of the salamanders of North America.

4. Mudpuppy

Mudpuppy
Mudpuppy | image by Brian Gratwicke via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Necturus maculosus maculosus

Mudpuppies are commonly referred to as waterdogs, and can be recognized by their set of feathery gills. They have short legs and a tail fin that helps them quickly swim through water.

Mudpuppies have four toes on their front and hind feet, while most salamanders have four toes on the front feet and five on the back feet. These salamanders are usually gray with a pale belly.

5. Two-toed Amphiuma

Two toed Amphiuma
Two-toed Amphiuma | image by Northeast Coastal & Barrier Network via Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0

Scientific name: Amphiuma means

The two-toed Amphiuma are widespread salamanders found in southeastern North America. Unlike most other salamanders, these are known for only having two toes. Most other salamanders found in the U.S. have four or five toes, but certain types are known for having less.

The two-toed Amphiuma is more likely to be seen along the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. They can also be found throughout the state of Florida.

6. Three-toed Amphiuma

Three toed Amphiuma
Three-Toed Amphiuma | image by Peter Paplanus via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Amphiuma tridactylum

The three-toed Amphiuma is closely related to the two-toed Amphiuma. As its name suggests, the three-toed Amphiuma has three toes on each limb.

These salamanders can grow up to three feet in length, making them one of the longest salamanders in the U.S., though they are slimmer than the bulky hellbender. The three-toed Amphiuma is among the longest amphibians in North America.

7. Jefferson Salamander

Jefferson Salamander
Jefferson salamander | image by Kerry Wixted via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Ambystoma jeffersonianum

Jefferson salamanders are a long and slender salamander frequently spotted throughout the United States, especially in the northeastern U.S. and Great Lakes region. They are known for having long toes and a long snout, with 12 coastal grooves down each of their sides.

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Jefferson salamanders are brownish gray, with blue marks around their heads. However, older Jefferson salamanders might not have these marks at all, as they disappear over time.

8. Marbled Salamander

Marbled Salamander
Marbled Salamander | image by Peter Paplanus via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Ambystoma opacum

Marbled salamanders found in the United States are typically dark black or brown, with crossbands that are white. Female marbled salamanders might have darker crossbands. These salamanders can have either 11 or 12 coastal grooves, with a completely black underbelly.

9. Spotted Salamander

Spotted Salamander
Spotted Salamander | image by Peter Paplanus via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Ambystoma maculatum

One of the most recognizable salamanders in North America is the spotted salamander. They have two rows of either orange or yellow spots running down their bodies, while the rest of them is typically a dark blue, black, or brown. Spotted salamanders also have 12 coastal grooves down each side.

10. Red Spotted Newt

Red Spotted Newt
Red Spotted Newt Credit: C&O Canal NHP via flickr

Scientific name: Notophthalmus viridescens

Just as the name suggests, the red-spotted newts can be recognized by red spots that mark their brown colored bodies. As larval, red-spotted newts are more greenish, and they at first have forelegs and gills.

They will develop hind legs and the rest of their forelegs after a few months, and they will lose their gills. This metamorphosis also causes them to develop a rudder-like tail, which helps them as they spend the rest of their life in the water. Coastal grooves on these salamanders are hard to notice.

11. Northern Dusky Salamander

Northern Dusky Salamander
Northern Dusky Salamander | image by Peter Paplanus via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Desmognathus fuscus fuscus

Northern dusky salamanders have 14 distinguishable coastal grooves going down each of their sides. Their tail is less than half of their size and triangular shaped.

The northern dusky salamander looks completely gray or tan but sometimes has nearly unnoticeable dark markings. These salamanders have a light colored underbelly with blueish speckles.

12. Green Salamander

Green Salamander
Green Salamander | image by Peter Paplanus via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Aneides aeneus

The green salamander is considered threatened in North America. It can be recognized by a large head that is said to look swollen, and irregular yellowish patches dotting green skin. Green salamanders have a slender and flat body with square-tipped toes. They also have either 14 or 15 coastal grooves on each of their sides.

13. Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Northern Two Lined Salamander
Northern two-lined salamander | image by Doug McGrady via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Eurycea bislineata bislineata

While the northern two-lined salamanders will usually appear yellow or brown, they also have a light stripe that runs down most of their back. Down their tail, this stripe may be broken into multiple sections.

Each side of these salamanders can have between 13 and 16 coastal grooves. Northern two-lined salamanders also have a bright yellowish belly.

14. Appalachian Dusky Salamander

Desmognathus monticola
Appalachian dusky salamander | image by Brian Gratwicke via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Desmognathus monticola

This type of salamander is closely related to the northern dusky salamander, and they can look pretty similar. Half of their size is their tail, and they are usually gray or light brown.

They also have streaks of black or brown going down their backs. Appalachian dusky salamanders will have 14 grooves down each side, and the very tip of their tail will end in a point.

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15. Mountain Dusky Salamander

mountain dusk salamander on a dried leaf
mountain dusky salamander

Scientific name: Desmognathus ochrophaeus

One of the common salamanders spotted throughout the United States is the mountain dusky salamander. They blend into the ground thanks to their dark brown or tan coloring and have light stripes running down their backs.

The face of mountain dusky salamanders will also have a line from their jaw to their eye. These salamanders have 14 coastal grooves on each side and a rounded tail.

16. Four-Toed Salamander

Four Toed Salamander
Four-Toed Salamander | image by Peter Paplanus via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Hemidactylium scutatum

Most of the salamanders found throughout North America have five toes, but the four-toed salamander only has four toes on their forelegs and hind legs.

They can be a red, brown, or yellow color with gray sides and black spots. These salamanders are also known for having thick tails with a ring around the base of it.

17. Longtail Salamander

Longtail Salamander
Longtail Salamander | image by Greg Schechter via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Eurycea longicauda longicauda

Just as the name suggests, the longtail salamander has a tail that is longer than the rest of its body. These bright yellow salamanders are common in the United States.

They can be recognized by their bright coloring combined with dark spots speckling their body. Down their tails, these spots can appear more like lines.

18. Slimy Salamander

Slimy Salamander
Slimy Salamander | image by Peter Paplanus via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Plethodon glutinosus glutinosus

Slimy salamanders will have 16 coastal grooves down each of their sides, and shiny black skin marked with silver or white spots. The throats and chins of these salamanders are dark gray, while their bellies are a slate color. The slimy salamander is commonly seen in the United States, especially in Appalachian regions.

19. Redback Salamander

Redback Salamander
Redback salamander | image by Brian Gratwicke via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Plethodon cinereus

The redback salamander is one of the lungless salamanders that is frequently seen in areas throughout the United States. These are slender and long salamanders, recognized by the red coloring of their backs. This thick mark can sometimes be gray, pink, orange, or yellow instead of red.

These salamanders can go through three different color phases, with the redback being the second phase. The first phase is called the lead back phase. In this phase, they look fully black or gray. The third phase is rarer and features the redback salamander being fully red, except for on their bellies. They can have between 18 and 20 coastal grooves going down each of their sides.

20. Northern Red Salamander

Northern Red Salamander
Northern Red Salamander | image by Peter Paplanus via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Scientific name: Pseudotriton ruber ruber

The Northern Red Salamander has 16 to 17 coastal grooves along each side. Its body is typically bright red or orange with black spots, though adults often darken as they age. Juvenile Northern Red Salamanders are generally brighter in color than the adults, and darken as they age.

21. Wehrle’s Salamander

Wehrles Salamander
Wehrle’s Salamander

Scientific name: Plethodon wehrlei

The Wehrle’s salamander spotted throughout the United States can look anywhere from a bluish color to black, with small light flecks sometimes decorating their backs. They have 17 coastal grooves down each of their sides, and a gray underbelly. Their throats are typically white.