Fire Salamander
The Fire Salamander is possibly the best-known salamander species in Europe. It is black with yellow spots or stripes to a varying degree although some individuals can be nearly completely black while on others the yellow is dominant. Shades of red and orange may sometimes appear either replacing or mixing with the yellow according to the subspecies. Males and females look very similar except during the breeding season when the most conspicuous difference is a swollen gland around the male's vent. This gland produces the spermatophore which carries a sperm packet at its tip. The Fire Salamander can grow to be 5.9 to 9.8 inches long.
The Fire Salamander can be found in most of southern and central Europe. They are most commonly found at altitudes between 1,300 feet and 3,300 feet. It is only found rarely below these levels but in the Balkans or in Spain it is commonly found in higher altitudes as well.
The Fire Salamander prefers deciduous forests since it likes to hide in fallen leaves and around mossy tree trunks. It needs small brooks or ponds with clean water in its habitat for the development of the larvae. Whether on land or in water, the Fire Salamander is inconspicuous spending much of its time hidden beneath stones, wood or other objects. It is active in the evening and at night but on rainy days it is active during daytime as well.
The diet of the Fire Salamander consists of various insects, spiders, earthworms and slugs but they also occasionally eat newts and young frogs.
The Fire Salamander may actively defend itself once it is grasped by a predator. Besides various anti-predator postures, it is able to exude toxic skin secretions such as the neurotoxic alkaloid Samandarin. This alkaloid causes strong muscle convulsions and hypertension combined with hyperventilation in all vertebrates. The poison glands of the Fire Salamander are concentrated in certain areas of the body, especially around the head and the dorsal skin surface. The coloured portions of the animal's skin usually coincide with these glands.
Date: 11th May 2015
Location: road from Serres to Mount Vrontou summit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece
The Fire Salamander can be found in most of southern and central Europe. They are most commonly found at altitudes between 1,300 feet and 3,300 feet. It is only found rarely below these levels but in the Balkans or in Spain it is commonly found in higher altitudes as well.
The Fire Salamander prefers deciduous forests since it likes to hide in fallen leaves and around mossy tree trunks. It needs small brooks or ponds with clean water in its habitat for the development of the larvae. Whether on land or in water, the Fire Salamander is inconspicuous spending much of its time hidden beneath stones, wood or other objects. It is active in the evening and at night but on rainy days it is active during daytime as well.
The diet of the Fire Salamander consists of various insects, spiders, earthworms and slugs but they also occasionally eat newts and young frogs.
The Fire Salamander may actively defend itself once it is grasped by a predator. Besides various anti-predator postures, it is able to exude toxic skin secretions such as the neurotoxic alkaloid Samandarin. This alkaloid causes strong muscle convulsions and hypertension combined with hyperventilation in all vertebrates. The poison glands of the Fire Salamander are concentrated in certain areas of the body, especially around the head and the dorsal skin surface. The coloured portions of the animal's skin usually coincide with these glands.
Date: 11th May 2015
Location: road from Serres to Mount Vrontou summit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece
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Also in: East Macedonia and Thrace
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