Mud salamanders and red salamanders differ in a number of ways, including their appearance, habitat, and diet:
Appearance
Mud salamanders have dark eyes and a short snout, while red salamanders have a longer snout and a gold-like iris with a horizontal bar. Mud salamanders also have a more contrasting dorsal and ventral coloration than red salamanders.
Habitat
Mud salamanders live in muddy habitats like swamps, bogs, springs, and streams. Red salamanders depend on damp habitats.
Diet
Mud salamanders eat a variety of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, and may also eat other salamanders. Red salamanders eat small invertebrates like arachnids, worms, and small insects, and may also eat smaller salamanders.
Coloration
Younger mud salamanders are bright red, orangish-brown, or crimson, but darken to a dark purplish-red or brown as they age. Red salamanders are bright red to reddish orange with black spots, and their color can become more purplish-brown with age.
Size
Red salamanders can be 11 to 18 centimeters in length.
