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[[File:Sallie.jpg|250px|thumb]]

'''Salamanders''' belong in the order ''Amphibia'' along with [[frog]]s and [[toad]]s. Salamanders comprise 350 species out of the 4000 or so known species of [[amphibian]]s, salamanders are found only in the [[America]]s and in the temperate zones of Northern [[Africa]], [[Asia]] and [[Europe]]. Some salamanders are fully [[aquatic]] and some are fully terrestrial animals, while some live on land from late [[summer]] through [[winter]], entering [[water]] to breed in the [[spring]].  

'''Salamanders''' are a type of [[amphibian]], and comprise 350 out of the 4,000 or so known species of amphibians. They belong in the order ''amphibia'' along with [[frog]]s and [[toad]]s. Salamanders are found in the [[America]]s and in the temperate zones of Northern [[Africa]], [[Asia]] and [[Europe]]. Some salamanders are fully [[aquatic]] and some are fully terrestrial animals, while some live on land from late [[summer]] through [[winter]], entering [[water]] to breed in the [[spring]].  

Often mistaken for [[lizard]]s, salamanders (sometimes called "sallies") have soft, moist [[skin]] covering their long bodies and even longer [[tail]]s. They have no [[scale]]s, claws or internal [[ear]] openings. Their [[larva]] are sometimes confused with the frog [[tad pole]]s, but their [[head]]s do not get as large as the tad poles. They have [[feather]]y gill structures present just behind their head on the sides of the neck area, and their front legs develop first; frogs lack the external gill structures, and their hind legs erupt before their forelegs.

Often mistaken for [[lizard]]s, salamanders (sometimes called "sallies") have soft, moist [[skin]] covering their long bodies and even longer [[tail]]s. They have no [[scale]]s, claws or internal [[ear]] openings. Their [[larva]] are sometimes confused with the frog [[tadpole]]s, but their [[head]]s do not get as large as the tad poles. They have [[feather]]y gill structures present just behind their head on the sides of the neck area, and their front legs develop first; frogs lack the external gill structures, and their hind legs erupt before their forelegs.

The majority of the salamanders and their larva are [[carnivorous]], taking in [[insect]]s, small [[invertebrate]]s; the large adults eat fish, frogs and other salamanders. Secretive, essentially voiceless animals, they are chiefly [[nocturnal]], hiding under fallen [[log]]s and damp [[leaf]] litter during the daylight [[hour]]s. The larvae begin feeding immediately after hatching, devouring tiny aquatic animals.

The majority of the salamanders and their larva are [[carnivorous]], taking in [[insect]]s, small [[invertebrate]]s; the large adults eat fish, frogs and other salamanders. Secretive, essentially voiceless animals, they are chiefly [[nocturnal]], hiding under fallen [[log]]s and damp [[leaf]] litter during the daylight [[hour]]s. The larvae begin feeding immediately after hatching, devouring tiny aquatic animals.