Found in Ozark Plateau region, cave salamanders, or Eurycea lucifuga, primarily dwell in southern Missouri's caves. These salamanders may also be found in forests and semi-aquatic environments. Cave salamanders have orange skin with black spots on their backs and tails. When fully mature, this salamander grows between 4 to 6 inches.
Eastern tiger salamanders, or Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum, resemble tigers with an orange skin base with black blotches on their heads, backs and tails. One of Missouri's largest salamanders, an eastern tiger salamander may grow up to 8.25 inches when it matures. This salamander is found throughout the state but chiefly lives in the northern half of Missouri. Eastern tiger salamanders are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night, and live in a variety of habitats such as forests, marshes and grasslands.
The western slimy salamander, or Plethodon albagula, is a black amphibian with a long, curved tail and silver blotches on its back. As adults, this salamander grows up to nearly 7 inches long. In Missouri, western slimy salamanders live in the southern half of the state, except near the Mississippi Lowlands region. Western slimy salamanders excrete a sticky substance through their skin, giving them the "slimy" moniker.
As its name suggests, the grotto salamander, or Typhlotriton spelaeus, is found in caves throughout southern Missouri's Ozark Mountains. Grotto salamanders have pink skin and are the only blind salamander species in Missouri. Adult grotto salamanders reach lengths of 3 to 5 inches. These salamanders live near slow-moving streams in Missouri's caves, and their diet consists of small insects.
The ringed salamander, or Ambystoma annulatum, is a long salamander species - it grows up to 7 inches - and has black skin with yellow rings encircling its body. This salamander usually lives in the Ozarks of southwest and central Missouri; ringed salamanders are also found near the Missouri River in the eastern part of the state. Ringed salamanders spend most of their time under fallen logs and rocks in forest areas.
Also known as Ambystoma maculatum, the spotted salamander is a black-skinned amphibian with yellow spots on its back and tail. Another physical characteristic of spotted salamanders are grooves on both sides of its body. Spotted salamanders grow up to 7 or 8 inches as adults. The primary environments for spotted salamanders are wetlands and forests. Spotted salamanders are found throughout the southern region of the state.
The central newt, or Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis, is an aquatic salamander found in lakes, swamps and ponds throughout Missouri. This newt has orange skin with black dots. Central newts require water to deposit larvae, which evolve into newts in the water. Invertebrates are the main staple of a central newt's diet.