Salamanders, a diverse group of amphibians, exhibit a complex and varied relationship with water. While some species spend their entire lives submerged, others are primarily terrestrial, only returning to aquatic environments for specific life stages. This spectrum of lifestyles means the answer to whether salamanders can live in water is not a simple yes or no, but rather depends on the particular species and its biological adaptations.
Salamander Diversity and Habitats
Salamanders occupy a wide array of habitats, reflecting their diverse needs for moisture and water. Fully aquatic salamanders, such as the Mexican axolotl and mudpuppies, live exclusively in water, never venturing onto land. These species are highly adapted for a permanent underwater existence, often found in lakes, ponds, or slow-moving streams.
Other salamanders are semi-aquatic, spending significant portions of their lives in water but also moving onto land. Hellbenders, large salamanders native to North America, and many mole salamanders (e.g., spotted salamanders) return to water primarily for breeding. Terrestrial salamanders, like woodland salamanders, predominantly live on land, often in moist environments such as under logs or leaf litter. Even these terrestrial species depend on moist conditions to prevent their skin from drying out and require access to water for reproduction.
Biological Adaptations for Water
Salamanders possess various biological features that enable them to thrive in aquatic environments. Many species, especially during their larval stages, have external gills that protrude from their heads, appearing feathery or bushy. These gills are rich in blood vessels and maximize the surface area for efficient oxygen absorption from the water. Some salamanders, like the axolotl and mudpuppies, retain these external gills throughout their adult lives, a phenomenon known as neoteny.
Another adaptation is cutaneous respiration, or “skin breathing.” Salamanders have permeable, smooth skin that facilitates gas exchange directly through the skin surface. This method of respiration is important in aquatic settings, as water helps keep the skin moist, which is essential for oxygen uptake. Many lungless salamanders, for instance, rely entirely on cutaneous respiration, supplemented by gas exchange through the lining of their mouths. Aquatic salamanders also possess laterally flattened tails with fins, which act like paddles to aid in propulsion and swimming.
Life Cycle and Water Dependency
Water plays a central role throughout a salamander’s life cycle, particularly for reproduction and early development. Most salamanders begin their lives as eggs laid in aquatic environments, such as ponds, streams, or temporary pools. These eggs hatch into aquatic larvae, which are equipped with external gills and fin-like tails, allowing them to breathe and move underwater. This larval stage can last from a few weeks to several years, depending on the species and environmental conditions.
Following the larval stage, many salamander species undergo metamorphosis, transforming to lose their gills, develop lungs, and adapt for a more terrestrial or semi-aquatic adult life. However, some species exhibit neoteny, where they reach sexual maturity while retaining their larval features, such as external gills, and remain entirely aquatic. Even for species that become terrestrial adults, water remains important for breeding, as females return to water bodies to lay their eggs.
Newts and Their Aquatic Lives
Newts are a specific subfamily of salamanders (Pleurodelinae) that display a distinct pattern of water interaction. While all newts are salamanders, not all salamanders are newts. Newts have a more semi-aquatic lifestyle compared to many other salamanders, often returning to water to breed.
Their life cycle involves three stages: an aquatic larval stage with gills, followed by a terrestrial juvenile stage known as an “eft.” These efts live on land before undergoing a second metamorphosis. As adults, many newt species then return to water, becoming aquatic again for breeding and often spending most of their adult lives there. This “triple life” pattern distinguishes newts from other salamanders that transition directly from an aquatic larval stage to a terrestrial adult, or remain aquatic throughout their lives.