Salamanders
Eastern Newt - Notophthalmus viridescens
Newts are 2 1/2 -4 inches long (Conant and Collins, 1991). Adults may be brown or green and have small black dots scattered about. Below they are yellow or yellow-orange with small black dots. The eft is rust brown, sometimes with red spots partly outlined in black. They have black dots and bellies similar to the adults. Read More at herpnet.net
Mudpuppy - Necturus maculosus
The Mudpuppy is Minnesota's largest salamander reaching lengths of 13-16 inches. They are also our only salamander that is entirely aquatic their whole lives. Adults are brown, reddish-brown, or gray above with varying numbers and sizes of black spots. Ventrally, they are gray with dark mottling. They have four toes on the front and back feet. Read More at herpnet.net
Redback Salamander - Plethodon cinereus
This is one of the smaller salamanders native to Minnesota. They are 21/2 to 4 inches long. The back and tail is usually a bright orange-red, but it can vary to almost a brown. Ventrally, they are gray or brown with white or silvery flecks. This pattern extends upward onto the sides. There is a "leadback" phase of this salamander in which the entire body and tail is gray. Read More at herpnet.net
Four-toed Salamander - Hemidactylium scutatum
This is the smallest salamander found in Minnesota with specimens growing from 2-3 1/2 inches in length. They are reddish brown or brown above with silver flecking on the sides. The belly is porcelian white with small, but bold, black spots scattered randomly about the venter. There are four toes on the front and hind feet. Read More at herpnet.net
Tiger Salamander - Ambystoma tigrinum
This is a large Minnesota salamander with specimens up to 13 3/4 inches long found here (Oldfield and Moriarty, 1994). Adults are black to gray in ground color with irregular yellow spots all over the body. These spots vary intensively among individuals; there may be yellow spots or the yellow pigment may take over so that the black is a network of lines. Read More at herpnet.net
Spotted Salamander - Ambystoma maculatum
This is a rather large salamander reaching lengths of 6 to 7 3/4 inches long (Conant and Collins, 1991). Adults have a black, bluish black, or gray ground color with two rows of round yellow or orange spots running lengthwise down the back. The rows of spots may be irregular or straight. The spots run from the eyes to the tail tip and are usually well rounded and do not run together to form large blotches or lines. Read More at herpnet.net
Blue-spotted Salamander - Ambystoma laterale
This is a medium sized Minnesota species that ranges from 4-51/2 inches in length (Conant and Collins, 1991). They have a shiny black dorsal color that may vary from dark blue-black to a lighter gray-black. They are conspicously marked with light blue flecks on the sides and tail. The speckling varies among specimens. Read More at herpnet.net