There are around 126 species of small, colorful salamanders and newts in this family. All of the species in this family are found in the Northern Hemisphere.

Their bright coloring serves as a visual warning to other animals, as all species in this family produce a toxin through their skin.  True salamanders are nocturnal and spend the day in burrows under logs or stones.

Most species of true salamanders are found in Europe in moist forests and meadows. Some species are found in the Middle East and northwest Africa.

Newts are found in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and North America. Unlike most salamanders, newts have non-slimy, rough skin, and their costal grooves (vertical grooves) are hard to see! Newts are usually between 3 to 4 inches in length.

Newts in the Notophthalmus genus live in North America have three cycles. They start their lives as aquatic larvae, then they become a red eft and live on land, and finally they become an adult newt and live on land and in the water.