Salamanders are the largest group of tailed amphibians, with over 200 species. Newts are close relatives of salamanders. All salamanders are divided into 2 families - real and lungless salamanders. The main difference between them is that real salamanders are typically amphibious animals breathing with lungs, while lungless salamanders are purely aquatic, and therefore their lungs are reduced.

The red-spotted or East American newt (Notophthalmus viridescens), despite its name, also belongs to salamanders.

All types of salamanders have the same type of structure: an elongated body with a long tail, a small head and short, weak legs. In general, true salamanders are shorter and curvier, while in lungless salamanders the body and tail are often greatly elongated, almost serpentine in shape. Salamander eyes have movable eyelids. Their tongue is short, their jaws are weak with small teeth. The body of salamanders, like all amphibians, is covered with thin, rather delicate skin. It is wet all the time, because the salamanders breathe not only with the lungs, but also with the entire surface of the body. In addition to moisturizing mucus, the skin of some salamanders may contain poisonous glands, the secretion of which makes them completely inedible. The color of different types of salamanders is of two types: in some species it is dark and inconspicuous, while in others it is bright - red, orange, yellow - with a spotted or mottled pattern. The bright coloration acts as a warning to predators.

The fire or spotted salamander (Salamandra salamandra) is poisonous.

The Caucasian salamander is able to drop its tail like a lizard, then the tail grows back. The size of different types of salamanders varies from 7 to 25 cm.

Salamanders can be found in Europe, Asia, but they have reached the greatest diversity in North America. The habitats of these amphibians are diverse, but in one way or another they are connected with water. Most species live in streams, some hide under trees in damp forests, and some have adapted to living in dark caves.

Oklahoma salamanders (Eurycea tynerensis) hiding under rocks.

Salamanders are solitary animals. They manifest daily activity and come out of hiding in the usually dark time of the day. With the advent of cold weather, many species of salamanders hibernate.

These animals feed on wood lice, slugs, small insects and earthworms. The breeding season is in the spring. Salamanders, like all amphibians, have external fertilization, but the fate of fertilized eggs is different. The females of real salamanders draw the eggs fertilized by the male into their cloaca, where their further development takes place. The female lays eggs again when the development of the embryo is completed (sometimes this process lasts up to 10 months). From the laid eggs, the larvae are born that hour. In the Alpine salamander, only two larvae develop in the body, and the rest of the eggs go to feed these two embryos.

Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra).

Lungless salamanders guard the laying of eggs until the offspring hatch. Salamander clutches are gelatinous lumps, the number of eggs in salamanders is small (12-30), but they are large.

Salamander clutches are eaten by caddisfly larvae.

The larvae of true salamanders undergo a metamorphosis characteristic of all amphibians, and the larvae of the lungless ones are similar to adult animals. They reach full development only by 2-3 years.

Enemies of fragile salamanders are snakes, birds, sometimes small animals. However, due to their relatively small numbers and hidden lifestyle, salamanders are not a systematic prey for these animals. Rather, they fall on the tooth by accident. Due to the peculiarities of their physiology, salamanders are very vulnerable to drought, cold, and withering direct sunlight. Therefore, they are found only in untouched places with dense vegetation and an abundance of natural shelters. Many species of salamanders are endemic (that is, they live in a very limited area) and are under the strictest protection.

The red-footed salamander (Plethodon shermani) is one of the American endemics.

Salamander is a large amphibious animal. Its relatives are the frog and the toad. But outwardly, it looks like a lizard (which is a reptile). However, unlike the lizard, the salamander does not have scales or claws, and its skin is always moist. The salamander secretes a poisonous liquid that protects it from predators. Salamanders belong to the tailed amphibians and are found in damp places.
The smallest salamanders are approximately 5 cm long, the largest reach 50 cm. The largest in the world is the Chinese giant salamander. The length of her body can be almost 2 m.
Small animals that have tried the salamander by mouth immediately die, and larger ones, having poisoned themselves, are seriously ill for a long time. It is impossible to get poisoned by the poison of this amphibian if you touch his body with your hands. However, if a person touches a salamander, and then - to the eyes, then he can go blind!

Lifespan varies for different species of salamander. The smallest individuals live from one to several years. Large salamanders live an average of 20-30 years, and the Chinese giant - more than 50.
Both aquatic and terrestrial salamanders need moisture for life and reproduction: the female lays her eggs in the water, and her larvae lead an aquatic lifestyle. Salamanders try to hide from the heat: they are mainly active at night, and during the day they hide in dark and humid places.
The age of puberty occurs at 3 years. Salamanders breed throughout the year, but more often in spring. After internal fertilization, the eggs develop inside the body of the female (ovoviviparous). Some types of salamanders are oviparous (they lay eggs).
Ten to 50 aquatic larvae are born in the female 10 months after fertilization. As the larvae grow, they develop lungs. After 3-4 months, when the lungs are fully developed, young salamanders crawl ashore and become land animals.
If the animal failed to hide from the predator, then the salamander leaves its tail in its claws and runs away. Soon her tail will grow back, but it will already be shorter than the previous one. Thanks to poisonous secretions, salamanders have few enemies. Main danger- disappearance of breeding grounds. This is due to the economic activities of people in the territories where these amphibians live.
All salamanders are predators. Salamander larvae eat tadpoles and other small aquatic invertebrates. Adult salamanders feed on insects, worms and snails. Salamanders are useful to people. They feed on pests of gardens and orchards: snails, spiders, insects.
Salamanders lead a solitary life most of the time. However, they go to hibernation in groups. Some species may make specific sounds.

aquatic salamanders
Some salamanders spend their entire lives in the water. Many of them (not all!) retain gills throughout their lives. Entirely aquatic salamanders are found mainly in North America, Europe and East Asia. These include the largest of all living amphibians. Hidden gills, like giant ambistomes, belong to the Cryptobranchidae family. Proteas, Amphiums, American Proteas and Sirens belong to their own families. The giant salamander lives in the water and emerges every 6-10 minutes to take a breath of air. The axolotl is an unusual member of the mostly terrestrial family Ambystomidae. Whole aquatic salamanders should be kept in 21°C water, with plants and rocks to hide under, and a heavy lid to prevent escape. Aquariums should be cleaned frequently and filled with chlorine-free water.
Aquatic salamanders include:
1. Allegan cryptobranch (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) inhabitant of the eastern United States. Size 76 cm, gray color, eats meat, fish, dog food. The depth of water in the terrarium is 30-46 cm.
2. European Proteus (Proteus anguinus) inhabitant of southern Europe, size 30 cm, white color, eats tubifex and other worms. The terrarium needs shade and a temperature below 10°C.
3. Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) lives in Mexico, size 22.5 cm, brown or white color with large feathery gills. It loses them if the animal is given an extract of the thyroid gland and if it lives on land after that, like other ambystomas, both forms can multiply. Can live up to 20 years, eats worms, slugs, etc.
4. Acne amphium (Amphiuma means) inhabitant of the southeastern United States, size 76 cm, brown-black color, does not like bright light, bites, eats worms, fish, shellfish, etc.
5. American proteus (Necturus maculosus) lives in the east of North America, size 33 cm, brown color, with gills. Lives long, eats worms, meat, fish. The aquarium needs an air pump.
6. Large siren (Siren lacertina) inhabitant of the southeastern United States, size 76 cm, eel-like body, with gills and only with forelimbs. Color olive grey. Eats worms, raw meat.

Ground salamanders
Hardy ground salamanders are among the most ornamental popular amphibians that are easy to keep at home. Here we consider representatives of the Salamandridae and Ambystomidae (ambystomidae) families. Fire and alpine salamanders give birth to live young - the first in water at a depth of 2.5 cm, the second on wet ground. Ambistomes usually lay their eggs in the water.
1. The brightest species in Europe is the black and yellow fire salamander. Its color may vary by region. The size, shape and number of spots are not always the same. Along with spotted salamanders in Europe there are individuals with yellow stripes, and sometimes completely yellow. The fire salamanders Southern Europe the stripes may be red, other salamanders show red spots on their belly. The fire salamander also lives in Southeast Asia, North Africa.
Salamander spotted, fiery (Salamandra salamandra). Body length is usually about 20-22 cm; shiny, black with irregular yellow or orange-red spots. On the head of the salamander, behind the eyes, on the sides of the body along the ridge, there are glands and pores that secrete a poisonous secret.
Salamander spotted - characteristic appearance hilly and mountainous regions, lives in wooded valleys with streams, avoids dry and open places. It is active mainly at night, rainy weather and by day. Her body is wet and cold, yet stingingly hot, thanks to the neurotoxic venom her glands secrete. The salamander cannot harm human health, although getting its secret into the eyes, mucous membranes or unhealed scratches can cause a sensitive burning sensation and irritation.
The timing of mating can be greatly extended during the entire period of activity; fertilization is internal: after a rather complex mating ritual and hugs, the male deposits a spermatophore, a slimy sac with sperm, on the soil. And the female presses her belly to the soil and captures the spermatophore with the cloaca. In most cases, females give birth to larvae (rarely eggs), place them in oxygen-rich water of streams, where they feed on small aquatic animals during their development - from two months to two years.
For maintenance, a moist, shaded aquarium with moss and a bowl of water is required.
2. Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra) lives in Europe. 16 cm in size. Live cubs are born on land. They feed on slugs and worms. Keep at home in cool conditions, hibernates.
3. Tiger ambistoma (Ambystoma tigrinum) lives in the USA, body length 18 cm, dark color with pale brownish spots. Keep at home like a fiery salamander.
4. Marble ambystoma (Ambystoma orasit) lives in the eastern United States, body length 11 cm, black with whitish color. Keep at home like a fiery salamander.

Lungless salamanders
Salamanders in the family Plethodontidae do not have lungs as adults and breathe through their skin and mouth. Found almost exclusively in the New World, this large family of usually graceful, feeble-looking creatures includes both aquatic and terrestrial forms. The latter require moisture, coolness and insects for nutrition. Small representatives need live enchitreids and Tubifex (tubifex).
1. Silver salamander (Plethodon glutinosus) lives in the eastern United States, body size 17 cm, black with spots, sticky skin. Eats tubifex, slugs, etc. Keep houses cool, wet conditions.
2. Red false newt (Pseudotriton ruber) lives in the eastern United States, body size 15 cm, reddish color with black spots. Life needs coolness, wet moss, bark and shallow water.
3. Dark salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) lives in the eastern United States, body size 11 cm, brown or gray color, lives about mountain rivers.
4. Pacific salamander (Ensatina eschscholtzii) lives in the eastern United States, body size 14 cm, brown color with a pale belly, humid wooded habitats.

fire salamander

Value Body length up to 28 cm
signs A long amphibian with a thick, rounded tail; black skin with yellow orange spots and stripes
Nutrition Worms, molluscs, insects and their larvae
reproduction Pairing in early spring and in summer; the female lays 30-70 larvae in shallow water; depending on environmental conditions, larvae develop into adults within a few months or 2-3 years
habitats Lives in damp forests near streams, springs and reservoirs; with the exception of Great Britain and Scandinavia, distributed throughout Europe, as well as in North-West Africa and in parts of South-West Asia

Salamander is a truly legendary amphibian. In almost all myths of any nation there is a mention of this creature. What qualities were not attributed to her: the fact that she is immortal, and the fact that her skin is able to cure all diseases, and that this is a small dragon, from which a fire-breathing monster will grow in a hundred years. “Among all poisonous animals, the poisonous salamander is the most vicious. Other animals harm individuals, but do not destroy many at once; in addition, they say that, having wounded a person, they perish and are no longer accepted by the earth; the salamander can kill entire nations if they are not careful. If a salamander climbs a tree, then all the fruits are poisoned with poison, and those who eat die of chills, as in aconite poisoning. Even if bread is baked on wood that she has touched or stepped on, it will be poisoned; the same will happen to water if a salamander falls into a well. If she splashes any part of the body or leg with her mucus, then hair will fall out from the whole body. However, such a poisonous animal is eaten by pigs, representing nothing unusual for them. ” - this is how the ancient Greek naturalist Pliny described this amphibian in 20 BC.

In Germanic mythology, the salamander is the spirit of fire; according to the Greek belief that came from the Middle Ages, it does not burn in fire, but, passing through it, extinguishes it. Of course, from the point of view of Christianity, the salamander is the messenger of hell.
Fiction and reality are closely intertwined when we are talking about salamanders. Now, of course, they have been studied, but still, some superstitious fear is present when you mention salamanders. This is also because these amphibians are poisonous, and the fear is well founded.
The spotted or fire salamander has parotid glands that secrete toxic poison. The poisonous juice of this salamander protects it from attacks by other animals. If the dog eats it, it can die from poisoning. Salamander venom affects nervous system, paralyzing vital important centers brain.

Salamanders are indeed an interesting animal. So, it is the salamander that serves as the standard for the regeneration of limbs. Her body is able to restore lost body parts throughout life.


And recently, scientists discovered that the reproductive organs of salamanders contain algae DNA.


A salamander embryo under a microscope. Red dots - green algae

And these same algae, which was known even before this discovery, enter into symbiosis with the eggs laid by the salamanders, supplying the embryo with oxygen, and receiving nitrogen from the waste of the embryo.

Salamanders live in Western Ukraine, in the Carpathians, in North America and in the west of Asia Minor. She prefers glades, meadows, wet deciduous and mixed forests, rarely conifers. The most important condition for her life is moisture, so that in dry weather the salamander feels bad and may even die completely. This is a terrestrial animal, and the salamander swims very poorly. The day spends in various shelters, in cheeses in dark places, but she hunts in the twilight and night hours. It feeds mainly on earthworms, which it digs out of the soil. But it can also prey on large insects.
Her black body reaches 25 cm in length. From above, the scales of the salamander are covered with bright yellow spots of irregular shape. Life expectancy - 20-25 years, records in captivity - more than 50.
Before mountainous areas Carpathians you can meet one of the most poisonous salamanders - alpine black newt. It is smaller than other types of salamanders: only 10-12 cm. In most cases, alpine newts live in societies in damp forests and gorges; they are very lazy and slow animals. Their glands secrete a secret that causes severe burns when it comes into contact with the mucous membrane of the eye or mouth.


North American newts are truly venomous. In these salamanders, not only adults are poisonous, but also their eggs.
All salamanders are endowed with a special poison, which in chemistry is called salamandrin. It's pretty toxic. Just one dose is enough to kill 15 guinea pigs. The poison causes convulsions, respiratory distress, cardiac arrhythmias, and partial paralysis. But this is only when the poison gets inside.

When hunting, the salamander does not use its poison, it only needs it for protection. But in case of need, salamanders use it very skillfully: they spray poisonous drops at a distance of several feet.

The spotted salamander is a passively poisonous animal. Their poison does not act through the skin, and they do not have devices for introducing it into the blood. That is why the salamander does not pose a serious danger if you do not pick it up, and even more so do not drag it into your mouth.

Salamander (lat. Salamandra)- an animal of the class amphibians (amphibians), order tailed amphibians. Translated from Persian, the name of the animal literally means "burning from the inside."

Salamander - description, characteristics, structure. What does a salamander look like?

In appearance, the salamander is similar to a lizard, but these animals belong to completely different classes: they are classified as reptiles, and salamanders are classified as amphibians. Another difference is that in lizards the skin is dry and covered with scales, salamanders are always moist and smooth. The limbs of lizards end in sharp claws; salamanders do not have claws.

The body of the salamander has an elongated shape and smoothly passes into the tail. Some species have a dense and stocky physique (for example, a fire salamander), others are thin and slender (Alpine salamander).

Depending on the species, the body length of an adult salamander ranges from 5 to 180 cm, including the tail. In some species, for example, in representatives of long-tailed salamanders, the length of the tail significantly exceeds the length of the body.

The color of the salamander can be varied, but the fiery salamander, painted in bright black and orange colors, is considered to be the most beautiful representative of the detachment. Coloration of other species may be solid, black, brown, yellow, olive, gray, reddish, or a combination of shades. different colors, transformed into stripes, specks and spots of various shapes.

All salamanders are distinguished by short legs, but in some species the limbs are poorly developed, in others the paws are stronger and thicker. In most species, the front legs have 4 toes, the hind legs have 5.

The head of the salamander is elongated, slightly flattened. The eyes of the salamander are convex, black in color, in many varieties the eyelids are well developed. On the head of an amphibian there are specific skin glands - parotids, characteristic of all amphibians. The main function of the glands is the production of bufotoxin, a special poisonous secretion containing alkaloids and having a neurotoxic effect that causes convulsions and paralysis in mammals.

For humans, salamander venom is not dangerous, but if it gets on the mucous membranes, it is likely to cause redness and burning. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of the venom of these animals are widely used in folk and traditional medicine. The amphibious salamander has unique property to grow the limbs and tail lost in the struggle for life. The average life expectancy of a salamander is 15-20 years, but among the species diversity there are centenarians: for example, the Japanese giant salamander can live up to 55 years. The fire salamander lives in captivity for up to 50 years, and in the natural environment, its life expectancy is no more than 14 years.

Many species of salamanders are listed in the Red Books as endangered. Animals are slaughtered for poison for medicinal purposes, and meat large species salamander in national cuisine many peoples is considered a delicacy.

Where does the salamander live in nature?

Some salamanders live exclusively in water and differ from their relatives in well-formed gills, for example, the giant Chinese salamander is a representative of the cryptogill family. Salamanders, belonging to the family of cryptogills, live in the United States of America, in China and Japan.

The family of lungless salamanders in the process of evolution completely lost its lungs, without receiving gills. Therefore, members of the family have to breathe with the help of the skin and mucous membranes of the oral cavity. These salamanders live in tropical and subtropical forests, mountains and lowlands, plantations and village gardens. Lungless salamanders are predominantly inhabitants of the countries of the New World: they are distributed in territories covering the mountainous and wooded areas of Canada, including the tropics and subtropics of Bolivia and Brazil. Several species live in European countries, and only one species (lat. Karsenia koreana) can be found in South Korea.

Representatives of the family of true salamanders, leading a predominantly terrestrial existence, have respiratory system represented by a pair of well-developed lungs. True salamanders are widespread in Europe, they live in the northwest of the African continent, in Asia Minor and China, small species populations are found in Indochina and India, the range also covers areas from southern Canada to the northern regions of Mexico. Only four species of salamanders live in Russia.

What do salamanders eat?

Most salamanders during daylight hours prefer to sit out in empty burrows, dry wood, under stones and in rock crevices, and after dark they go hunting, which lasts until dawn. The method of hunting for most species is the same: with a sharp jerk, the salamander rushes at the victim with its whole body, and when it grabs it, it tries to swallow it whole.

Salamander food is directly related to the habitat. Salamanders living on the ground prey on various insects (,), eat their larvae and will not give up slugs and worms. Large individuals willingly catch young and small ones.

Aquatic salamanders eat different types small fish, crayfish, crabs, mollusks, as well as small mammals, insects and amphibians. Depending on the range, some species of salamanders hibernate during the cold season, burrowing singly or in groups in fallen leaves and other rotten vegetation, and wake up with the onset of spring.

Types of salamanders, names and photos.

The modern classification includes several hundred species of salamanders, which belong to various families:

  • real salamanders(lat. Salamandridae);
  • lungless salamanders(lat. Plethodontidae);
  • cryptogills(lat. Cryptobranchidae).

Below is a description of several varieties of salamanders:

  • fire salamander, she is spotted salamander or ordinarysalamander (lat. Salamandra salamandra)- the most numerous species in the European territory, whose representatives are distinguished by their large size, long life span (up to 50 years in captivity) and bright aposematic (warning) coloration. The length of the salamander, together with the tail, is from 23 to 30 cm. The main color of the body is black, strewn with contrasting orange or yellow spots, which are evenly distributed throughout the body, but differ irregular shape. Symmetry is present only on the paws and head. From many representatives of the family, the fire salamander is distinguished by live birth and fear of water. Animals are forced to descend into water bodies only during the breeding season. The common salamander lives in the forest zone, foothill and mountain landscapes of Europe and the northern regions of the Middle East.




  • Alpine salamander (black salamander)(lat. Salamandra atra) outwardly resembles a fiery one, but differs in a more elegant body and a uniform black color of the skin. The body length of adult animals reaches 9-14 cm (sometimes 18 cm). Alpine salamanders live at altitudes up to 700 meters above sea level, preferring rocky landscapes and the banks of mountain streams. The range of the species passes through the central and eastern regions of the Alpine ranges: from Switzerland and Austria to Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro.



  • Caucasian salamander(lat. Mertensiella caucasica)- a rare species of long-tailed salamanders with a body length of not more than 15 cm, most of which is the tail. The body is narrow, brown or black, in most representatives of the species it is covered with bright yellow oval spots, which resembles a fire salamander. But unlike the latter, the Caucasian salamander moves quickly, like a lizard, and swims well. The animal belongs to the category of vulnerable and lives exclusively in wooded area and along the banks of reservoirs in the territories of Turkey and Georgia.



  • spring salamander(lat. Gyrinophilus porphyriticus) extremely prolific and capable of laying up to 132 eggs. The body, which grows from 12 to 23 cm in length, is distinguished by a bright red or orange-yellow color with small dark spots. The salamander lives in the territories of the USA and Canada in the mountainous regions of the Appalachians.


  • Pacific salamander(lat. Ensatina eschscholtzii) it is distinguished by a small thick head, a strong slender body about 14.5 cm long and wrinkled skin on the sides, forming small folds. A typical inhabitant of the mountainous landscapes of Canada, the USA and Mexico.

  • tree salamander(lat. Aneides lugubris) grows in length from 7 to 12 cm and has a nondescript light or dark brown color. The salamander has a muscular tail, on which it rests, deftly climbing trees, jumps well over short distances and squeaks loudly. The narrow range of the species is limited to the US state of California and Mexican state Lower California.


The smallest salamander in the world- this is a dwarf salamander (lat. Eurycea quadridigitata), the body length of an adult is from 5 to 8.9 cm. And also a tiny salamander (lat. Desmognathus wrighti), growing in length from 3 to 5 cm. Both species live in the northern states American continent.

Dwarf salamander (lat. Eurycea quadridigitata)

Tiny salamander (lat. Desmognathus wrighti)

The largest salamander in the world- Chinese gigantic (lat. Andrias davidianus), it is also the largest amphibian in the world. The length of the body of an adult individual, together with the tail, reaches 180 cm, and the body weight is 70 kg. The Chinese giant salamander lives in water bodies in eastern China.



Reproduction of salamanders.

Puberty of small varieties of salamanders occurs at the age of 3 years, representatives of large species mature by 5 years. Primitive amphibians from the family of cryptogills are oviparous, more highly developed, for example, representatives of the family of true salamanders, are viviparous and ovoviviparous.

Salamander is an animal that can reproduce all year round, but the most sexual activity these amphibians show in the spring, at the same time, in males, a gland secreting a spermatophore characteristically protrudes in the cloacal area. The female receives the seed material deposited on the ground with her cloaca. Aquatic salamanders reproduce by external fertilization, when males regurgitate a spermatophore onto a clutch of eggs laid by the female.

Larvae of viviparous species of salamanders develop in the womb for 10-12 months. About 60 eggs can be in the oviducts, but only 2 larvae are provided with complete metamorphosis, and the remaining eggs serve as food for them until they are born.

Often, salamander larvae that have not completed the development cycle are born, which have yet to turn into a full-fledged amphibian, while being under water for some time. Only a completed development cycle and formed lungs allow salamanders to go to land.

females aquatic species amphibians lay up to 50 pieces large eggs, the incubation period of which is 2-2.5 months. Salamander eggs hatch into larvae about 3 cm long with well-developed gills.

Representatives of the lungless salamander family, for example, the pygmy salamander, lays from 12 to 48 eggs, alternately attaching them to the roots and stems of underwater vegetation. After 2 months, larvae appear from the eggs, and after another 2-3 months, fully formed young salamanders come out onto land and begin an independent terrestrial life.

In some varieties of egg-laying salamanders, for example, in the green salamander (lat. Aneides aeneus) and the slow salamander (lat. Bolitoglossa dofleini), the offspring go through a cycle of direct development, bypassing the larval stage, and hatch from eggs as fully developed young individuals.

Some species are long mating season and are able to make several clutches per season, for example, the twilight salamander (lat. Eurycea lucifuga).

Interesting Salamander Facts:

  • Since the Middle Ages, amphibian salamanders have excited the human mind: incredible abilities were attributed to them and amazing legends were composed about them. So, the fiery salamander is often mentioned in the writings of Aristotle and Cicero, and the alchemist philosophers considered the animal to be the soul of fire and the embodiment of the fifth element, better known as the philosopher's stone.
  • The burrowing salamander (lat. Phaeognathus hubrichti) is the official symbol of the US state of Alabama.
  • European cave salamanders (lat. Speleomantes) are different from their closest relatives long tongue with a special trap disk that is thrown out of the mouth and returns with a gaping insect at the end.

Salamanders are amphibians that belong to the salamander suborder, the caudate order. In appearance, they are clumsy, the body is disproportionately thick with transverse folds and a rounded tail. There are many glands on the skin. Most of them are concentrated on the sides of the body, on the back and behind the ears. There are 4 fingers on the forelimbs, and 5 on the hind limbs. Very interesting and very mysterious creature is a salamander.

The animal is the hero of numerous legends and even fairy tales, and all thanks to the assurance that the amphibian does not burn in fire. Of course, you should not mock the salamander in order to verify the veracity of these words, but if it does happen that the animal falls into the fire, it will not die, but, most likely, will flee. The salamander lizard has mucus that is secreted from its hide. It is she who helps to avoid negative consequences from fire. By the way, because of the white-milk secretions, this creature was considered deadly for humans for many years.

The most common and famous is the fire salamander. The animal got its name because of the golden-orange spots on a black background, sometimes it is also called spotted. amphibian - Europe, except for the northern territory, Wet and dark places - this is what the salamander loves so much. prefers to hide under stones, tree roots, in burrows. The lizard feels great in forests where high humidity reigns. If it persists for a long period hot weather and the prescribed amount of precipitation does not fall, then the habitation of the salamander in this place is in question, since the amphibian cannot exist for a long time under high temperatures and low humidity.

The main disadvantage of the animal lies in its slowness. Because of this, they cannot diversify their diet and feed mainly on snails, clumsy insects, and earthworms. Sometimes they attack small vertebrates. Slowness is also the reason why the salamander falls prey to many predators. An animal can become a dinner for a shrew, a raccoon, a possum, an owl. Tellingly, the mucus of the lizard has no effect on predators, for them it is harmless.

The salamander belongs to the type of viviparous animals; in appearance, the cubs resemble tadpoles, like those of frogs. From the moment of birth until the very autumn, they stay in the water, and when it gets colder, they get out onto land in order to hide more securely. For the winter, all lizards hibernate. For a long time people believed that the caustic mucus secreted by the salamander through the skin was deadly not only for small rodents, but also for large animals and humans. In fact, the poison of some species does cause harm, but it does not lead to death.

A salamander never attacks a person. The photo of this lizard shows that it has no attack devices. The amphibian does not have claws, teeth, spikes, therefore, in order to protect yourself from poison, you simply should not touch it. With prolonged contact with a salamander, mucus can enter the body even through the skin. The poison can affect the brain and central nervous system, so safety precautions should be followed when meeting with a lizard.