What is the Difference Between Lizard and Salamander?

Lizards and salamanders are both ectothermic animals with similar body shapes, but they belong to different groups and have several key differences:

1. Classification: Lizards are reptiles, while salamanders are amphibians.
2. Skin: Lizards have dry, scaly skin, which helps them retain water in arid environments. Salamanders, on the other hand, have moist, porous skin that is permeable to water in the wet habitats where they live.
3. Habitat: Lizards can be found in various terrestrial environments, while salamanders require moist and wet habitats, such as under logs or leaves, underground, or directly in water.
4. Breathing: Lizards breathe with lungs, just like humans. Salamanders can breathe through their skin, via gills, via lungs, or in some cases via their skin and lungs.
5. Reproduction: Lizards have leathery, partly calcified (shelled) eggs that are typically buried in sand or dirt, while a few species give birth to hatched young inside the mother. Salamanders, as amphibians, mostly lay their eggs in water, and the larvae hatch after some time, usually metamorphosing into adults.
6. Claws: Lizards have claws on their toes, which are useful for their terrestrial habitats. Salamanders lack claws on their toes.
7. Ear Openings: Lizards have ear openings, while salamanders do not.

In summary, lizards are reptiles with dry, scaly skin and claws on their toes, while salamanders are amphibians with moist, porous skin and no claws on their toes. Their habitats, respiration methods, and reproductive processes also differ significantly.

Comparative Table: Lizard vs Salamander

Here is a table summarizing the differences between lizards and salamanders:

In summary, lizards are reptiles with rough scales, clawed feet, and lungs, while salamanders are amphibians with smooth wet skin, rounded clawless toes, and various breathing mechanisms. They also differ in their preferred habitats, reproduction methods, and sensory abilities.