Salamanders are lizard-like amphibians, and they breathe through the mucous glands found on the mouth, throat and skin. Since their skin must be moist and smooth in order to breathe, you can generally find them in humid and wet environments.
Steps
Step 1. Go to a geographic area where salamanders can generally be found
One third of all species live in North America, particularly in the Appalachian Mountains region, while the other two thirds are found throughout Central America, South America, Asia and Europe.
Step 2. Take some time in the spring season to look for salamanders
Most of them live underground, but after the winter they move to reproduce in water stagnations, that is, shallow depressions in the ground, which fill with water during the spring season.
Step 3. Plan to look for them at night, or when the weather is cloudy and rainy
Salamanders are nocturnal animals and you usually find them during the night; however, they can venture outside during the day when it is cloudy or raining.
Step 4. Check for open areas where the soil remains constantly moist
The ideal habitats are areas such as streams, rivers, ponds, swamps and marshes.
Step 5. Look for debris on the ground near wetlands and pools of water, such as rocks, fallen logs, branches and piles of leaves
Since they have to keep their skin moist to breathe, they hide under these types of objects to shelter from direct sunlight.
Step 6. Slowly flip these materials over to find the salamanders
If you make slow and delicate movements, perhaps the salamanders will not be alarmed and do not run away quickly to find another hiding place.
Step 7. Return all the materials you moved during the search to their original position
Any changes in the position of rocks, logs and other debris could alter humidity levels and compromise the salamander's habitat.
Advice
- If you have already caught salamanders in the past, try to return to the same place. In most cases, salamanders only venture to familiar places, particularly those where they were born.
- If you don't live in a geographic region where salamanders reside, you can see them at the nearest zoo. Most zoos keep them in the reptile house or snake and reptile zone, where they can thrive in a humid, real or simulated environment.
- If you plan on getting a salamander, make sure you don't have lotions, sprays, and other chemicals on your hands that could be harmful to its health. Also, provide the salamander with a cool, humid environment and mist its skin with water if necessary.
