What biological classification separates the Spotted Salamander (*A. maculatum*) from the Yellow Spotted Lizard?

The lizard is a reptile giving birth to live young, while the salamander is an amphibian laying gelatinous egg masses underwater

The fundamental biological difference separating *Lepidophyma flavimaculatum* and *Ambystoma maculatum* lies in their class and reproductive strategy. The Yellow Spotted Lizard is a reptile that reproduces by giving birth to live young, meaning it does not require standing water for reproduction. In stark contrast, the Spotted Salamander is an amphibian, which mandates that its juvenile stage requires water. Salamanders of this type lay gelatinous egg masses underwater, tying their life cycle directly to aquatic environments, which is not a requirement for the lizard. Furthermore, while both may utilize burrows to some degree, the salamander is known to be fossorial, whereas the lizard relies more on ground structures like logs and leaf litter for shelter, highlighting deep differences in their life cycles and dependency on moisture.