I think you are refering to a salamander or a newt. Both are amphibians(that do live both in and out of water) and they look similar to some lizards. Do a search for salamanders and you might turn up some results as there are many different species living all over.
These lizards are called "Newts". They are commonly found in damp, mossy places. After a rain you often see them out as well. There are lots of varieties of Newts. There is even a "Giant Newt" that is nearly a foot long!