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Lizards and salamanders
Though salamanders and lizards may look similar, they are quite different!
Salamanders belong to the group of animals called amphibians. Amphibians usually lay unshelled eggs in water or moist places, and most species have a gilled larval stage that changes into a lung-breathing adult. Amphibians have smooth or warty skin that can be quite penetrable, so most species remain in or near water or moist habitats.
Lizards belong to the reptile family. Reptile young are hatched from shelled eggs or born alive and are essentially miniature versions of their parents. Both amphibians and reptiles depend on the outside environment for body heat because they do not produce it internally. Lizards in Michigan can be found in a variety of habitats such as woodlands and grasslands.
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Michigan salamander species
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Michigan lizard species
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Adaptations
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Reproduction
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Salamanders, lizards and people
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Conservation and how you can help