Fire Salamander
Salamandra salamandra
Least ConcernFast Facts
About
The fire salamander is one of Europe's most striking amphibians, its glossy black body boldly marked with yellow or orange blotches and stripes. These vivid colours are a warning: the skin secretes toxins that deter predators.
It inhabits cool, shaded deciduous woodland near clean streams and springs, sheltering by day beneath logs, stones and leaf litter.
Behaviour
Fire salamanders are most active on damp, rainy nights, emerging to hunt invertebrates on the forest floor. Their bright markings advertise their toxicity, allowing them to move unhurried without fear.
Unusually, most females give birth to live, already-developed larvae, which they deposit directly into cool streams.
Did you know?
- Glands behind the eyes can squirt a toxin to deter would-be predators
- Most fire salamanders give birth to live larvae rather than laying eggs
- Their vivid yellow pattern is unique to each individual, like a fingerprint
- The old legend that they were born of fire arose from salamanders fleeing burning logs
Distribution
Hilly, deciduous forests across central and southern Europe
