Why are salamanders so slimy? These amphibians need to stay moist so they can breathe through their skin! If their skin ever dried out, the salamander would stop breathing and die. Slime helps salamanders survive in other ways, too. It keeps them safe from hungry enemies. The slime on a salamander's skin tastes bad and is often poisonous. Some people may think their slimy coating is gross, but it has helped salamanders survive on Earth since the time of the dinosaurs! In Slimy Salamanders, large color photos and fascinating facts will captivate readers as they discover what these water-loving creatures eat, how they stay safe, and the tremendous transformations that take place as these amphibians grow from tiny eggs to full-fledged adults.