The fire salamander is a prominent representative of an ancient group of amphibians that, despite their thin skin and affinity for water, were able to colonize vast areas of land. Since ancient times, people have believed that this creature has supernatural properties. It was believed that a fleeting touch to this evil creature could cause death. In addition, there were other myths, for example, that if a fire salamander fell into the water in a well, it would be poisoned forever. However, none of this is true. The study of these incredible creatures has made it possible to dispel the myths that have surrounded this creature for many centuries.
The fire salamander is a prominent representative of an ancient group of amphibians that, despite their thin skin and affinity for water, were able to colonize vast areas of land
The first complete description of this species was given in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus. It is not for nothing that this creature was called the fire salamander. It has an extremely variegated color. The glossy black surface of the skin has large bright yellow or orange spots. Some salamander species have red skin with small black dots. It is believed that with such a bright color, the salamander warns possible aggressors about its toxicity. This is an excellent defense mechanism against external enemies. The fire salamander's skin is smooth and always moist. This creature is a prominent representative of a very ancient group of animals belonging to the order of tailed amphibians. Despite the fact that the ancestors of this small creature lived long before the appearance of dinosaurs on the planet, this creature has not yet broken its connection with the water from which it came. The salamander's skin is very thin and requires constant hydration. If it dries out, this animal will simply die.
This is a fairly large species. The average body length of an adult is about 23 cm, but larger specimens are also found. The tail of the fire salamander is quite short. It has a round shape. It is characterized by increased mobility. The body of the fire salamander is stocky. The majority of the bright spots are usually located on the upper part, and often they merge to form stripes on the back and head. They are located asymmetrically. The abdomen has a lighter color. It is usually dark brown in color. The animal's head is slightly flattened. The mouth is very wide. It has many sharp teeth that have a rounded shape. The legs are short but very strong. Despite the fact that this creature is distinguished by thin skin that requires constant hydration, adult individuals do not have membranes or gills. The front pair of legs of this creature have only 4 fingers, and the back ones have 5.
The salamander's eyes are bulging, but can be completely covered with well-developed eyelids. Females are usually larger in size. They have a convex cloaca, so distinguishing them from males is not difficult. Adults of both sexes have parotid glands on their heads. They produce a toxic liquid that is milky in color. The secretion is quite viscous and has a characteristic odor of almonds. This substance contains 9 types of alkaloids that can cause poisoning in predators. The salamander can shoot it over very short distances. For small mammals, such as mice, it can be fatal. It acts as a neurotoxin, causing anemia, paralysis, seizures, etc.
If it comes into contact with human skin, there will be no poisoning, but if the mucous membrane is damaged, it can cause a severe burning sensation. This substance not only helps the fire salamander protect itself from predators, but also helps it avoid fungal and antibacterial infections. For this purpose, the salamander rubs the secretion into the skin. It is believed that the lifespan of these creatures in their natural habitat averages about 10-12 years. However, these data are not accurate, since naturalists have not yet been able to trace the entire life path of an individual. In captivity, with proper care, a salamander can delight its owners for 18-20 years. The relatively low life expectancy of their creatures in the natural environment is due to the presence of a large number of enemies.
Fire salamander (video)
Gallery: fire salamander (25 photos)
Distribution area of fire salamanders
This animal settled over a fairly wide area. These creatures are found in hilly areas and forests throughout much of central and eastern Europe. Additionally, fire salamanders are not uncommon in the northern Middle East. It is now known that the western limit of their range covers countries such as Portugal and France, and extends into northern Spain.
The northern limit of their natural habitat runs along Germany and southern Poland. The eastern border of the range of fire salamanders extends to the entire territory of the Ukrainian Carpathians, as well as countries such as Romania, Iran and Bulgaria. Among other things, a small population of these creatures has been identified in Turkey. Despite the vastness of their habitat, the number of these creatures is constantly declining. Due to their extremely thin skin, they are very sensitive to deforestation, drainage of water bodies and environmental pollution.
In some European countries, where these creatures were previously found quite often, this species is now on the verge of extinction. Only forests untouched by humans are an ideal refuge for these unique creatures. Usually the largest number of them is observed near the banks of rivers and forest lakes. Their favorite places are places with a large number of fallen old trees. Here they can find damp shelter from the scorching sun.
This animal settled over a fairly wide area. These creatures are found in hilly areas and forests throughout much of central and eastern Europe.
Lifestyle of fire salamanders
This animal is predominantly nocturnal, as extreme heat and direct sunlight can be fatal to it. In addition, since the salamander looks very impressive, predators can quickly notice it in the light. These amphibians are often eaten by wild boars, owls and snakes, for which their poison is not dangerous. During the daytime, fire salamanders hide in the forest floor, moss, and also in burrows under fallen trees, rotten stumps, and even under stones.
It is believed that this animal has a developed memory and perfectly remembers all possible shelters in its area. If any lizard seeks to bask in the sun in the morning, it can be extremely dangerous for this creature. As a rule, these animals are attached to one area and do not seek to move from the chosen area unless there are significant reasons for this. If necessary, the salamander can use its paws to dig small burrows in which it can shelter from the heat of the day. In some cases, when rainy weather sets in, these creatures can be active throughout the daylight hours.
The fire salamander is a sedentary creature. She moves along the ground slowly, gradually bending her body. The tail drags freely. The diet of this animal mainly includes:
- insect larvae;
- earthworms;
- spiders;
- butterfly caterpillars;
- other insects.
On rare occasions, large adults may consume young frogs and newts. Seeing prey, this creature quickly rushes forward. The fire salamander needs its teeth to hold food, which this animal swallows whole. It is now known that fire salamanders have an extremely slow metabolism, so 1 small slug or insect is enough for them for several days. When there is an abundance of food, this animal tries to consume as much as possible. This allows her to store fat in her tail, which will help her survive less favorable days in the future. It is surprising that, despite the fact that this animal needs constant skin hydration, it swims very poorly. Usually, when this salamander gets into the water, it immediately drowns.
During the winter, these creatures go into a state of suspended animation. They usually hibernate in October, but if the weather is warm enough, they will hibernate in early November. Cold does not affect vital processes in the fire salamander's body. She can sleep peacefully until the end of March.
Animal fire salamander (video)
Behavior of fire salamanders during the breeding season
After these creatures wake up from suspended animation, in which they remained throughout the winter, they immediately begin searching for a partner. The usually silent animal becomes quite active during this period. Males begin to make squeaking sounds to attract the attention of their partners.
Their hormonal levels are so elevated that they are ready to attack any object that resembles a female. Often, males fight among themselves and arrange catch-ups to find out which of them is worthy to continue the race. Unlike other species of salamanders, courtship and mating in these animals occurs on land and not in water. Next, the male demonstrates himself by waving his front legs. If she is satisfied with her partner, he releases a small sac filled with sperm.
The female walks straight at him, covering him with her body, and then sucks in the sperm with her genitals. Some fire salamanders lay their eggs in water. She carefully selects an area that will be flooded during high water and lays eggs.
In this case, the female must calculate the time when they will be flooded, since drying out threatens the clutch with death. In some cases, the female remains with the eggs, moistening them for a long time until they are covered with water. For the female herself, getting into the water is dangerous. After the eggs are in the water, larval forms emerge from them, which have gills and all the adaptations for life in water. However, they are in danger in the water, since any fish can eat them.
However, most salamanders live in the forest, where it is not always possible to find a suitable body of water, so many of them practice ovoviviparity. In this case, the female carries the offspring in her stomach.
In some cases, it produces larval forms that can breathe air. Some species produce adult individuals that have gone through all stages of metamorphosis. This allowed forest-dwelling salamanders to become more independent of the aquatic environment. After reproducing the offspring, the female no longer cares about him and his food.
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| Taxonomy on Wikispecies | Images on Wikimedia Commons |
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Spreading[ | ]
The western border of the range covers the territory of Portugal, eastern and northern Spain, as well as France.
The northern border of the range reaches northern Germany and southern Poland. The eastern border reaches the territory of the Ukrainian Carpathians, Romania, Bulgaria and Iran.
There is evidence of a small population in eastern Turkey.
The range also includes the territories of Greece, Hungary, Italy, Albania, Andorra, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro.
Description [ | ]
Fire salamander, rare orange color
Adult fire salamanders reach 23 cm in length, according to some sources up to 30 cm, the average body length is 16-19 cm, including the tail. The length of the tail is less than half of the total body length. The tail is round in cross section, very mobile (can move the tip). The stocky body is predominantly intensely black with irregularly shaped yellow or orange spots. The shape and location of the spots are varied and variable. Often the spots merge and form stripes. Often the spots on the head and paws are symmetrical, the rest are placed randomly, but evenly across the body. The salamander's bright, contrasting coloration (also called warning coloration) serves to warn enemies that their prey is poisonous. The abdomen is usually black or brown, uniformly colored, with lighter spots possible. The limbs are short and strong, without swimming membranes. There are four toes on the front paws and five on the hind paws.
The salamander's head is massive and round. Large convex eyes are completely black, the eyelids are well developed. You can distinguish a female from a male by its larger body size, shorter limbs and less convex cloaca. Females are wider.
The parotid glands are located on the head - parotids having an alveolar structure. The glands produce poison, which in appearance is a viscous milky liquid with a specific odor of almonds or garlic. Its main components are the steroid alkaloids samandarin and others. In total, salamander venom contains 9 alkaloids similar in structure. The poison is toxic for mammals (the average lethal dose is 20-30 mg/kg for mice). The venom acts as a neurotoxin, causing paralysis, arrhythmia and convulsions. It also has antibacterial and antifungal effects. For the salamander, the venom serves as protection against predators and infections. Salamander venom is not dangerous to humans, but contact of the venom on the mucous membranes causes a burning sensation. Under severe stress, the salamander is capable of spraying poison over a short distance.
Life cycle [ | ]
Fire salamander, larval stage
The reproduction process of fire salamanders has not been fully studied. In addition, significant differences are known in the reproductive cycles of salamanders of this species, depending on the habitat and its altitude above sea level.
The breeding season usually begins in early spring. At this time, in the male’s cloaca area, the convex gland that produces the spermatophore becomes more noticeable.
Two subspecies of fire salamanders - S.s. fastuosa And S.s. bernardezi- viviparous animals, the female does not lay eggs, but gives birth to larvae or, sometimes, even individuals that have completely undergone metamorphosis. The remaining subspecies practice ovoviviparity. There are rare cases known (when kept in captivity) when the female laid eggs, but even in such cases the larvae hatch very quickly.
Representatives of the species reach sexual maturity at the age of 3 years. Life expectancy in the natural environment is up to 14 years, some specimens lived up to 50 years in captivity.
Lifestyle [ | ]
Fire salamander in defensive position
Video - salamander in motion
The fire salamander prefers deciduous or mixed forests, foothills and mountainous areas, and river banks. In mountainous areas it is found at an altitude of up to 2 km above sea level. Fire salamanders have been observed to have a fairly strong attachment to a specific permanent habitat.
The fire salamander is a sedentary animal; it moves slowly on the ground, while its body bends slightly and its tail drags freely. It swims poorly (it can even drown in deep water), so it only approaches water bodies during the breeding season. It feeds on various invertebrates: butterfly caterpillars, dipteran larvae, spiders, slugs, earthworms, and can also eat small newts and young frogs. The salamander catches its prey by abruptly rushing forward with its whole body, and then tries to swallow it whole.
From October-November they usually go to winter until March. They spend the winter hidden under the roots of trees, under a thick layer of fallen leaves, often in large groups of twenty to several hundred specimens.
Natural enemies in nature for salamanders are snakes (common and water snake), predatory fish, birds and wild boars.
Subspecies [ | ]
Subspecies S.s. gallaica
Security [ | ]
The fire salamander is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine and classified as Category II (vulnerable species). In Europe, the species is protected by the Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Species of Wild Fauna and Their Habitats, concluded in 1979 (listed in Appendix III - “Species of Animals to be Protected”).
Fire salamander in culture[ | ]
The fire salamander has always attracted great attention from humans, largely due to its unusual appearance. There are known myths and legends associated with the fire salamander; its image is used as symbolism. Ancient people were confused by the fact that a salamander “emerged” from a fire, which in reality can be explained simply: if people threw a wet log into a fire with a salamander hidden in it from the sun, the wet wood extinguished the fire, and the salamander itself crawled out.
“Salamander” is the name of the Bonus Track from Helavisa’s album “Luciferase (Deluxe)”, which was released on December 14, 2018.
Notes [ | ]
- Life of animals. Volume 5. Amphibians. Reptiles / ed.
The salamander is a truly legendary amphibian. In almost all myths of any nation there is a mention of this creature. What kind of qualities were not attributed to her: the fact that she is immortal, and that her skin can cure all diseases, and that she 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 die 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, and those who eat them die from chills, as if poisoned by aconite. Even if you bake bread on wood that she has touched or the bark of which she has stepped on, it will be poisoned; the same thing 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 all over the body. However, such a poisonous animal is eaten by pigs, without presenting anything unusual to them.” - this is how the ancient Greek naturalist Pliny described this amphibian in 20 BC.
In German mythology, the salamander is the spirit of fire; According to the Greek belief, which 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 a messenger of hell.
Fiction and reality are closely intertwined when it comes to salamanders. Now, of course, they have been studied, but there is still some superstitious fear when you mention salamanders. This is also because these amphibians are poisonous, and the fear is very justified.
The spotted or fire salamander has parotid glands, which secrete toxic poison. The poisonous juice of this salamander protects it from attacks by other animals. If a dog eats it, it may die from poisoning. Salamander venom acts on the nervous system, paralyzing vital centers of the brain.
Salamanders are truly interesting animals. Thus, the salamander serves as the standard for limb regeneration. Her body is able to restore lost body parts throughout her 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, as was known before this discovery, enter into symbiosis with the eggs laid by salamanders, supplying the embryo with oxygen, and receiving nitrogen from the waste of the embryo.
Salamanders live in Western Ukraine, the Carpathians, North America and western Asia Minor. She prefers clearings, meadows, moist deciduous and mixed forests, less often coniferous ones. The most important living condition for it is moisture, so in dry weather the salamander feels unwell and may even die completely. This is a terrestrial animal, and the salamander swims very poorly. She spends the day in various shelters, 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 hunt large insects.
Its black body reaches 25 cm in length. The top of the salamander's scales is covered with bright yellow spots of irregular shape. Life expectancy is 20-25 years, records in captivity are more than 50.
In the foothills of the Carpathians you can find one of the most poisonous salamanders - the 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 secretion that causes a severe burn if it comes into contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes or mouth.
North American newts are truly poisonous. Not only the adults of these salamanders are poisonous, but also their eggs.
All salamanders are endowed with a special poison, which in chemistry is called salamander. It is quite toxic. Just one dose is enough to kill 15 guinea pigs. The poison causes convulsions, respiratory distress, cardiac arrhythmia and partial paralysis. But this is only if the poison gets inside.
When hunting, the salamander does not use its poison; it only needs it for protection. But if necessary, 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 certainly not drag it into your mouth.
Salamander- This amphibian animal, which people were afraid of even in ancient times. Myths were created about her and mystical abilities were attributed to her. This is mainly due to its toxicity and bizarre coloring. If you translate her name from the Persian language, it means “burning from within.”
salamander refer to class of animals amphibians, although they resemble them in appearance, should not be confused with them. The latter are reptiles. The body of this representative of amphibians is elongated and smoothly passes into the tail part. Dimensions range from 5-180 cm. The skin feels moist and smooth to the touch.
The color scheme in which different types are painted salamanders, is almost limitless, it can be seen on many photo these animals. The amphibian can be black, yellow, olive, red and other shades. And her back is decorated with stripes, dots and spots of various shapes and shades.
Salamanders have short and stocky legs. The forelimbs have 4 fingers, and the hind limbs have 5. There are no claws. On the flattened head there are bulging, dark eyes with rather developed eyelids.
There are also special glands (mumps) that are common to all amphibians. They then produce a poisonous secretion that causes convulsions and paralysis in animals trying to eat them. These amphibians also have an amazing property: they can regrow their lost limbs or tail. In the process of evolution, the group divided into lungless, cryptobranchs and true salamanders.
Their respiratory systems are structured differently. Lungless animals breathe through the skin and mucous membrane of the mouth. The cryptobranchs use gills, and the latter have fully formed lungs. Salamanders live in almost all countries with a warm and humid climate that suits them. But their greatest diversity is found in North America.
Salamander species
Describe all kinds of it animal it is impossible in one article, so below are the most unusual representatives of the group salamanders. The largest amphibian on the planet is the Chinese giant salamander. You can meet it only in the reservoirs of this country. It reaches 180 cm in length and weighs more than 70 kg.
Pictured is a Chinese giant salamander
The next species, the Lusitanian salamander, has an unusual method of hunting. She, like, catches prey with her tongue. Its body color is black, with two narrow golden stripes running along the ridge. She lives in Spain and Portugal.
Pictured is a Lusitanian salamander
The alpine salamander lives high in the mountains; it settles between rocks, near mountain rivers. The tree salamander deftly crawls along trunks, jumps well on branches and squeaks loudly. Its color is camouflage: a light or dark shade of brown. Lives in Mexico and California.
Alpine salamander
The most prolific spring salamander lives in the United States and Canada. She can lay more than 130 eggs at a time and is easily recognized by her red color with small dark spots.
Spring salamander
The most popular of salamanders- This fiery. In addition, she is the champion in life expectancy in her group - 50 years. She has a bright color: black and orange. It avoids water and goes down to it only during the breeding season. On photo you can see all the beauty fire salamander.
Pictured is a fire salamander
In the Carpathians, it is possible to find the most poisonous representative of this group - alpine black. In groups, these amphibians live in rock gorges and damp forests. Their poison causes severe burns on the mucous membranes of humans.
Character and lifestyle of the salamander
Salamanders, although they are loners, gather in groups before hibernation in October. To survive this unfavorable period for them together on land, in heaps of fallen leaves. They hunt mainly at night, and during the day they hide in shelters from direct rays of the sun. As a rule, there should be a body of water near their habitat.
They overtake their prey with a sharp jerk and cover it with their body. After a short struggle, the victim is swallowed whole. Natural enemies salamanders a lot to save animal leaves its tail or limbs in their claws and teeth, and quickly runs away.
Although these amphibians are poisonous, their secretion does not cause mortal harm to humans. It can only cause irritation on the hands, and if it gets on the mucous membranes, it can cause a burn to the mouth or eyes. Therefore, after touching an amphibian, you need to wash your hands well so as not to harm yourself through carelessness.
Today, many people want to keep this mythical amphibian at home. Buy a fire salamander You can buy it in special nurseries or pet stores. They will need a large horizontal terrarium to live. A mixture of leaves, sphagnum and peat is usually poured onto its bottom. There is a small pond inside. The lighting should be dim and the temperature should not exceed 25 degrees.
Salamander nutrition
The salamander's diet largely depends on its habitat. Amphibians living on land subsist on slugs and earthworms. Larger representatives may attack small ones. Salamanders that live in water prefer to catch crayfish and amphibians.
Salamander reproduction and lifespan
On average, salamanders live about 20 years, the duration depends on the size of the particular species. Small species reach sexual maturity by 3 years, and large ones by 5. Cryptobranchs lay eggs, and true salamanders are viviparous or ovoviviparous.
Amphibians breed throughout the year, but the peak of activity is observed in the spring, after emerging from hibernation. During this period, the gland filled with spermatophore swells in males. They lay it directly on the ground, and the female absorbs this material with her cloaca. In an aquatic environment, fertilization occurs differently: the male releases a spermatophore directly onto the laid clutch of eggs.
In viviparous animals, the development of larvae in the womb lasts 10-12 months. But out of 60 eggs, only 2 cubs are born; the remaining eggs are only food for them. The larvae of aquatic amphibians emerge from the eggs after 2 months. And they are born with already formed gills.
The pygmy salamander attaches its eggs to the roots of underwater plants. The larvae appear after 2 months, and after another 3, the young individuals come ashore and begin an independent life.
Many of the species of these amazing animals are listed on the pages of Krasnaya, and are on the verge of extinction. People put a lot of effort into preserving these species: they create specialized nurseries and reserves.
The salamander is a large amphibian. Its relatives are the frog and the toad. But in appearance it looks like a lizard (which is a reptile). However, unlike a lizard, a salamander has no scales or claws, and its skin is always moist. The salamander secretes a poisonous liquid that protects it from predators. The salamander belongs to the tailed amphibians and is found in damp places.
The smallest salamanders are approximately 5 cm long, the largest reach 50 cm. The largest salamander in the world is the Chinese giant salamander. The length of its body can be almost 2 m.
Small animals that have tasted a salamander immediately die, and larger ones, having been poisoned, become seriously ill for a long time. It is impossible to get poisoned by the poison of this amphibian if you touch its body with your hands. However, if a person touches the salamander, and then touches the eyes, he can go blind!
Both aquatic and terrestrial salamanders need moisture to live and reproduce: the female lays eggs in 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 damp places.
The age of puberty occurs at 3 years of age. Salamanders breed throughout the year, but more often in the spring. After internal fertilization, the eggs develop inside the female's body (ovoviviparity). Some species of salamanders are oviparous (they lay eggs).
10 months after fertilization, the female gives birth to 10 to 50 aquatic larvae in the water. As the larvae grow, they develop lungs. After 3-4 months, when the lungs are fully developed, young salamanders crawl ashore and become terrestrial animals.
If the animal fails to hide from the predator, 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 their poisonous secretions, salamanders have few enemies. The main danger is the disappearance of breeding sites. This occurs due to human economic activities in the areas 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 benefit people. They feed on pests of gardens and vegetable gardens: snails, spiders, insects.
Salamanders lead a solitary lifestyle most of the time. However, they go into hibernation in groups. Some species can make specific sounds.
Aquatic salamanders
Some salamanders spend their entire lives in water. Many of them (not all!) retain gills throughout their lives. Entirely aquatic salamanders are found primarily in North America, Europe, and East Asia. These include the largest of all living amphibians. Cryptobranchidae, like giant ambystomata, belong to the family Cryptobranchidae. Proteas, amphiums, American proteas and sirenians belong to their own families. The giant salamander lives in water and comes up for air every 6-10 minutes. 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. Allegheny 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 requires shade and a temperature below 10°C.
3. Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) lives in Mexico, size 22.5 cm, color brown or white with large feathery gills. It loses them if you give the animal an extract of the thyroid gland and if it then lives on land, like other ambystomas, both forms can reproduce. Can live up to 20 years, eats worms, slugs, etc.
4. Amphiuma eel (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. An aquarium requires an air pump.
6. Great siren (Siren lacertina) inhabitant of the southeastern United States, size 76 cm, eel-like body, with gills and only forelimbs. Olive, grey. Eats worms and raw meat.
Land salamanders
Hardy terrestrial salamanders are among the most ornamental and popular amphibians that are easy to keep at home. Here we look at members of the family Salamandridae and Ambystomidae (ambystomidae). The 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. Ambystoma usually lay their eggs in water.
1. The most striking species in Europe is the black and yellow fire salamander. Its color may vary depending on the 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. Fire salamanders from southern Europe may have red stripes, while other salamanders have red spots on their bellies. The fire salamander also lives in southeast Asia and northern Africa.
Spotted fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra). Body length is usually about 20-22 cm; shiny, black with yellow or orange-red spots of irregular shape. 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 secretion.
The spotted salamander is a characteristic species of hilly areas and mountainous regions, lives in wooded valleys with watercourses, avoids dry and open places. It is active mainly at night, and in rainy weather during the day. The body is wet and cold, but at the same time searingly hot thanks to the neurotoxic poison that its glands secrete. The salamander cannot harm human health, although getting its secretions into the eyes, mucous membranes or unhealed scratches can cause a sensitive burning sensation and irritation.
The timing of mating can be greatly extended throughout the entire period of activity; internal fertilization: after a rather complex mating ritual and embraces, the male deposits a spermatophore - a mucous 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 the oxygen-rich water of streams, where during their development - from two months to two years - they feed on small aquatic animals.
A moist, shaded aquarium with moss and a bowl of water is required for maintenance.
2. The Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra) lives in Europe. 16 cm in size. Live young are born on land. They feed on slugs and worms. Keep at home in cool conditions, overwinter.
3. Tiger Ambystoma (Ambystoma tigrinum) lives in the USA, body length 18 cm, dark color with pale brownish spots. Keep it at home like a fire salamander.
4. Marbled Ambystoma (Ambystoma oracitis) lives in the eastern United States, body length 11 cm, color black and whitish. Keep it at home like a fire 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, weak-looking creatures includes both aquatic and terrestrial forms. The latter require moisture, coolness and insects for nutrition. Small representatives need live enchytraeids 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 at home in cool, damp conditions.
2. Red false newt (Pseudotriton ruber) lives in the eastern United States, body size 15 cm, reddish color with black spots. Life requires coolness, moist moss, bark and shallow water.
3. The dark salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) lives in the eastern United States, body size 11 cm, brown or gray color, lives near mountain rivers.
4. Pacific salamander (Ensatina eschscholtzii) lives in the eastern United States, body size 14 cm, brown color with a pale belly, moist wooded habitats.
Fire salamander
| Magnitude | Body length up to 28 cm |
| Signs | A long amphibian with a thick, rounded tail; skin black with yellow and orange spots and stripes |
| Nutrition | Worms, molluscs, insects and their larvae |
| Reproduction | Mating in early spring and summer; the female lays 30-70 larvae in shallow water; depending on environmental conditions, larvae develop into adults within several months or 2-3 years |
| Habitats | Lives in damp forests near streams, springs and ponds; with the exception of Great Britain and Scandinavia, distributed throughout Europe, as well as in North-West Africa and some areas of South-West Asia |
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