Worldwide there are over 600 species of salamanders, twelve of which live in Connecticut. Of these almost half are on the states List of  species considered Endangered, Threatened and of Special Concern.
These Eastern Redback Salamanders are connecticuts most common species. Preferring cool moist forested areas , they are sometimes found while raking leaves, or under old logs while gathering firewood!

Appearance wise they look similar to a lizard, however salamanders are amphibians  and  are more closely related to frogs and toads. lizards are reptiles!

Because they have no internal thermostat their bodies temperature is the same as their surrounding environment, to adjust their temperature they must choose warm or cold resting spots. .They become inactive when the weather turns cold.
Like all other amphibians they
are cold-blooded, 

Although most amphibians spend part of their lives on land and part in water. The red backed salamander does not have an aquatic stage; the young hatch fully developed from eggs deposited under logs and stones.

Most amphibians have lungs. However,  the redback salamander does not. All amphibians use their thin, moist skin to take in oxygen

All salamanders are carnivores. They eat insects, worms, small animals, and even other salamanders.

While they are an important source of food for for a variety of small animals
The greatest threat they face is the loss of habitat usually destroyed by development or  degraded by pollution.