Can sals smell water? Or how do they find it?

[Otterwoman]

One of my newts recently escaped its tank, I thought it'd be gone forever. I tried putting out wet towels, which I recently read about on here (whoever thought of that, what a great idea!!) I found him two hours later in the towel. How did he find it?? I looked all over for him. He was hiding well. Can they smell water, or how do they find it?

 

[MarieKarma1311]

I have no idea if they can smell the water, but that is a fantastic trick for getting an escapee back! I'm glad to hear you got your little fella so soon!

 

[Blackbun]

Hi Otterwoman a Google scholastic search reveals that newts and salamanders can not only detect water but identify their own pond water when given a choice containing others.
Just one of many: Breeding site selection by olfactory cues in the threatened northern spectacled salamander Salamandrina perspicillata (Savi, 1821) - Romano - 2007 - Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems - Wiley Online Library