Most salamanders go largely unnoticed by humans due to their small size and secluded habitats. The soft-bodied hermits spend their days underground, in water or under the cover of moist leaves — rising only during the most temperate times of day and at night to feed. Chances are, unless you enjoy hiking under the cover of darkness, you’re largely unaware of their presence.
But salamanders, among other amphibians, play a very important role. Because these cold-blooded creatures have such specialized ecological niches, many of which are threatened by Earth’s warming climate, they're considered bioindicators of climate change.
