 There are about 655 living species of salamander . One @-@ third of the known salamander species are found in North America . The highest concentration of these is found in the Appalachian Mountains region , where the Plethodontidae are thought to have originated in mountain streams . Here , vegetation zones and proximity to water are of greater importance than altitude . Only species that adopted a more terrestrial mode of life have been able to disperse to other localities . The northern slimy salamander ( Plethodon glutinosus ) has a wide range and occupies a habitat similar to that of the southern gray @-@ cheeked salamander ( Plethodon metcalfi ) . The latter is restricted to the slightly cooler and wetter conditions in north @-@ facing cove forests in the southern Appalachians , and to higher elevations above 900 m ( 3 @,@ 000 ft ) while the former is more adaptable , and would be perfectly able to inhabit these locations , but some unknown factor seems to prevent the two species from co @-@ existing . 
