Salamandridae – Newts & true salamanders
All newts are salamanders, but not vice versa: newts spend more of their adult lives in the water
Salamandrid salamanders are found predominantly in Europe and Asia, with the most extensive geographic spread of any salamander family.
The “real salamanders” have smooth skin, whereas newts have rough skin that is not slimy, unlike all other salamanders. The majority of adult salamandrids are small and colorful. Before courtship, all salamandrids perform courtship displays in which the male surrounds the female. True salamanders reside in moist forests and subalpine meadows, emerging only from burrows under logs or stones on mild, damp evenings. Some species return to the same watery breeding location year after year.
Genera in this family
A recently discovered genus of Asian newts commonly also known as knobby newts
Amphibians native to the deciduous forests of central Europe, western Asia and Northern Africa
It can regenerate like a superhero and pulls off a mind-blowing double metamorphosis
Native to Western Asia and Caucasus newts
When seized, the push ribs out through skin giving them their name
Highly poisonous newts commonly known as rough skin newts