Because they move more slowly than other meat eaters, salamanders tend to eat slow-moving, soft-bodied creatures such as earthworms, slugs, and snails. Larger salamanders may eat fish, crayfish, and small mammals such as mice and shrews. They might approach their target slowly, and then make a quick grab with their sharp teeth. Or they might hide and wait for a tasty meal to pass close enough to snatch. Several salamanders can flick out their tongues to catch food as it goes by.
Most salamanders hatch from eggs. Female salamanders that live entirely in the water lay more eggs—up to —than those that spend some time on land. The California newt lays a clump of 7 to 30 eggs on underwater plants or exposed roots. The eggs are protected by a toxic, gel-like membrane. Lungless salamanders such as the spiny salamander are devoted parents that share egg-guarding duties.
They curl their body around the eggs and turn them over from time to time. This protects the eggs from predators and fungal infections. Some mother newts keep their eggs safe by wrapping leaves around each one as they are laid—up to eggs! Salamanders in the larval stage of their development are called efts. Different salamander species have different life cycles, too. Some breed, lay their eggs, and hatch on land while others, such as some of the newts, breed and lay eggs in the water.
When the eggs hatch, the larvae grow up in the water before heading to the land as adults. Still others, such as the giant salamander and the hellbender, spend all the stages of their life cycle in water.
Lungless salamanders have eggs that hatch directly into small salamanders, skipping the larval stage entirely, and the axolotl lives out its aquatic life in the larval stage, never developing beyond its larval features, a condition called neoteny. For example, the Chinese giant salamander is at critical risk; it is hunted illegally by humans for food, and its body parts are used in traditional Chinese medicines.
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The smallest salamander is probably Thorius arboreas, a member of the Minute salamanders. There are several salamanders in the Minute genus, all of which are really, really tiny. Thorius arboreas is found in Mexico and can be as small as 16mm! Animals that have bright colors are often toxic!
In some cases the animals might not be toxic but is copying a similar animal that is toxic mimicry. Most newts have some kind of toxin they secrete through their skin. They also have various defensive postures to show off their bright colors so predators know to avoid eating them.
Caecilians are long slender limbless amphibians that look like a cross between a worm and a snake. They are either fully aquatic or burrow deep in the underground. New species of these secretive amphibians are being discovered all the time.
Their bright, colorful skin warns predators to stay away, according to the San Diego Zoo. Many salamanders have glands on their necks or tails that secrete a bad-tasting or even poisonous liquid. Some can also protect themselves from predators by squeezing their muscles to make the needle-sharp tips of their ribs poke through their skin and into the enemy.
Some species can shed their tails during an attack and grow a new one. The axolotl, an aquatic salamander, can grow back limbs lost in fights with predators and damaged organs due to a special immune system.
Salamanders are carnivores, which means they eat meat instead of vegetation. They prefer other slow-moving prey, such as worms, slugs and snails. Some larger types eat fish, small crustaceans and insects. Some salamanders eat frogs, mice and even other salamanders.
Many salamanders lay eggs, but not all. The alpine salamander and fire salamander give birth to live offspring, for example. Depending on the species, other salamanders lay up to eggs at a time.
The Santa Cruz long-toed salamander, for example, lays to eggs at a time according to the ADW.
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