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Great Smoky Mountains: Salamander Capital of the World?
Published September 28, 2020
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is renowned for the beauty of its ancient mountains, its rich biological diversity, as well as for the history of its Appalachian mountain culture.
But, did you know that Smoky Mountain National Park is also the “Salamander Capital of the World?”
It’s true! In fact, there are over 30 species in the park, including five families:
Cryptobranchidae, Proteidae, Salamandridae, Ambystomatidae, and Plethodontidae. They are an especially abundant and diverse group from the 3-foot-long Hellbender, to the 2-inch-long Pygmy salamander. Some, like the Red-cheeked salamander, can only be found in the Smokies.
But, did you know that Smoky Mountain National Park is also the “Salamander Capital of the World?”
It’s true! In fact, there are over 30 species in the park, including five families:
Cryptobranchidae, Proteidae, Salamandridae, Ambystomatidae, and Plethodontidae. They are an especially abundant and diverse group from the 3-foot-long Hellbender, to the 2-inch-long Pygmy salamander. Some, like the Red-cheeked salamander, can only be found in the Smokies.
Fun Facts about Salamanders:
- The great majority of vertebrate (backboned) animals, including human visitors, in the park on any given day are salamanders.
- If you take all the salamanders that are out in the forest (by the millions) and weigh them, they’ll outweigh the small mammals who are living in the same area.
- Due to predators and disease, most Spotted salamanders die before they reach the land-dwelling juvenile stage.
- Adult Spotted salamanders live about 20 years, but some have been recorded to live as long as 30 years.
- One endemic species, Jordan’s Red-cheeked Salamander, is found only in the high elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and nowhere else in the world!
- Salamanders make for EXCELLENT macro photography opportunities. If you are booked on a Backcountry Journeys Smoky Mountains photography tour, be sure to bring your macro lens as a part of your kit.
Commonly called “spring lizards” in the southern Appalachians, salamanders are actually quite different than their lizard friends. Salamanders are amphibians while lizards are reptiles. The skins of salamander lack scales and are moist or slimy to the touch. Some even lack lungs. Their eggs are surrounded by clear jelly. Lizards, on the other hand, have scales on their skin and are dry to the touch. They lay eggs with leathery shells.
Adult amphibians are carnivorous. Many lungless salamanders use their tongues to capture small prey, while others capture their prey by grasping them in their jaws.
Because salamanders absorb through their skin, they are especially susceptible to changes in the environment and are one of the first things to decline in the environment around them becomes sick. Because of this, scientists study salamanders at the Park frequently, using them as biological indicators of the overall environmental health of the area.
Backcountry Journeys visits the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in both spring and autumn seasons. For photographers, like us, the Park offers an array of opportunities. Aside from the abundant wildlife, views, vistas, and trees, the smaller things – like salamanders – tend to hide in spots easily missed by the casual visitor.
So, if you’re out walking around the woods pay attention to the little things like the rotten logs on the side of the trail, or these little trickling springs, and all the different diversity of life under those little areas you don’t see. And with a macro lens in tow, you may just find some really nice images, too.
Because salamanders absorb through their skin, they are especially susceptible to changes in the environment and are one of the first things to decline in the environment around them becomes sick. Because of this, scientists study salamanders at the Park frequently, using them as biological indicators of the overall environmental health of the area.
Backcountry Journeys visits the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in both spring and autumn seasons. For photographers, like us, the Park offers an array of opportunities. Aside from the abundant wildlife, views, vistas, and trees, the smaller things – like salamanders – tend to hide in spots easily missed by the casual visitor.
So, if you’re out walking around the woods pay attention to the little things like the rotten logs on the side of the trail, or these little trickling springs, and all the different diversity of life under those little areas you don’t see. And with a macro lens in tow, you may just find some really nice images, too.
We offer world-class travel photography
experiences around the world.
Each tour is bundled with lodging, meals, and transportation between workshops included, allowing you to focus on photography instead of the stress of traveling.
experiences around the world.
Each tour is bundled with lodging, meals, and transportation between workshops included, allowing you to focus on photography instead of the stress of traveling.
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"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
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All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLCs - Copyright 2025
BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2025
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.