The salamander is real. Salamander - fire lizard

This is one of the most mysterious creatures Ancient world and the Middle Ages. Fire salamander represented in the form of a small dragon living in fire and embodying its spirit. Mentioned in the Natural History of Pliny the Elder, who says that the salamander itself is so cold that it can extinguish any flame as soon as it touches it.

“The most terrible of all animals is the salamander,” writes Pliny. “Others bite at least individual people and do not kill many at once, but a salamander can destroy an entire people without anyone noticing where the misfortune came from.”

If a salamander climbs a tree, all the fruits on it become poisonous. If she touches the table on which bread is baked, it becomes poisonous... Immersed in the stream, she poisons the water... If she touches any part of the body, even the tip of her finger, then all the hair on her body falls out...”

In alchemy, the salamander is the spirit of the element of fire, just as there are spirits of the other three elements - earth, water and air.

Where did this legend about a fiery creature come from? In the Hebrew legend “The Gates of Heaven” there are these lines: “Out of fire is born an animal called a salamander, which feeds only on fire; and fire is its matter, and it will appear in the blaze of furnaces that burn for seven years.” The image of a spotted lizard, associated with the element of fire, migrated to medieval treatises on symbolism, alchemy and found a connection with religious symbolism.

In the Physiologist, a book written in the 3rd century and which is a collection and original interpretation of pre-Christian works on zoology, the fire salamander corresponds to three righteous people who were not burned in the fiery furnace. Then her image spread across various bestiaries and gained popularity, and the legend took root and became firmly established in many prophecies.

The common fire or spotted salamander is a small amphibian with medium length body 16-20 cm

The fiery image began with the coloring of the animal. Ancient scientists, in particular Pliny the Elder and Albertus Magnus, tried to associate its yellow and orange spots on the skin with the light of distant stars.

It was believed that the fire salamander somehow influenced the appearance of meteors, comets and new stars, and they, accordingly, affected the location of colored spots on its skin. A connection with various fiery phenomena is also mentioned, since scientists associated the same elongated spots with flames.

The salamander has always caused superstitious horror and fear, giving rise to many myths. In some, she is immortal, and her skin can cure all diseases; in others it is little Dragon, from which a fire-breathing monster will grow in a hundred years.

In medieval magic, the salamander is a spirit, the keeper of fire, its personification. In Christianity, she is a messenger of hell, but in the treatises of the 11th century by the Byzantine George of Pisis, she is identified with the biblical symbol of a pious person, “who does not burn in the flames of sin and hell.”

In the Middle Ages, the belief spread in Europe that salamanders live in flames, and therefore in Christianity her image became a symbol of the fact that a living body can withstand fire. In addition, the magic lizard personifies the fight against carnal pleasures, chastity and faith. Theologians cited the phoenix bird as evidence of resurrection in the flesh, and the salamander as an example of the fact that living bodies can exist in fire.

In Saint Augustine's City of God there is a chapter entitled "Can Bodies Exist in Fire" and it begins like this:

“Why would I bring evidence here, if not to convince the incredulous that human bodies, endowed with soul and life, not only do not disintegrate and do not decompose after death, but their existence continues among the torments of eternal fire?

Since it is not enough for unbelievers that we attribute this miracle to the omnipotence of the Almighty, they demand that we prove it with some example. And we can answer them that there really are animals, corruptible creatures, for they are mortal, who nevertheless dwell in fire.”

Poets also resorted to the images of the salamander and phoenix, but only as a poetic exaggeration. For example, Que-vedo in the sonnets of the fourth book of “Spanish Parnassus”, where “the exploits of love and beauty are sung”:

I, like a Phoenix, am embraced by fury
By fire and, burning in it, I am reborn,
And I am convinced of his masculine strength,
That he is a father who gave birth to many children.
And the salamanders are notoriously cold
It doesn’t extinguish, I guarantee that on my honor.
The heat of my heart, in which I toil,
She doesn't care, even though he's a living hell to me.

In ancient books, the salamander was often given a magical appearance. She is already unusual, and in ancient descriptions she surpasses even this image. She has the body of a young cat, large membranous wings on her back, like some dragons, the tail of a snake, and only the head of an ordinary lizard.

Its skin is covered with small scales, fibers reminiscent of asbestos (this mineral was often identified with the salamander) - these are hardened particles of ancient flame.

Often a salamander can be found on the slope of a volcano during an eruption. She also appears in the flames of a fire if she so wishes. It is believed that without this amazing creature, the appearance of heat on earth would be impossible, because without his command even the most ordinary match cannot light up.

According to the treatises of Kabbalism, in order to get this strange creature, you should find a transparent glass vessel with a round shape. In the center of the flask, using specially placed mirrors, focus Sun rays. After some time, the solar substance of the salamander will appear there, its true essence, which can then be used in alchemy to produce the philosopher's stone.

Other sources clarify that the non-burning salamander only ensured that the required temperature was maintained in the crucible where the transformation of lead into gold took place.

The image of the salamander was widely used in symbolism and heraldry. Thus, on the coats of arms, a four-legged lizard surrounded by flames symbolized perseverance and contempt for danger. For example, in British coats of arms it means courage, courage, fortitude, which cannot be damaged by the fire of disasters. It is curious that the first insurance companies chose the salamander as their symbol, which meant safety from fire.

Traveling through the French castles of Chambord, Blois, Azay-le-Rideau, Fontainebleau, you can come across dozens of images of the salamander, since it was the salamander that was chosen by the French king Francis I as his symbol.

Salamander in the emblem of King Francis I, Château d'Azay-le-Rideau

A salamander on fire, accompanied by the king's motto “I cherish and banish,” is found on bas-reliefs and decorates walls and furniture. The meaning of this motto was that a wise and just monarch sows goodness and goodness, while at the same time eradicating evil and ignorance.

Fiction and reality are often very closely intertwined, and the salamander is a classic example of this. Now, of course, they are quite well studied, but some superstitious fear still remains. Perhaps also because these creatures are unusually poisonous, and most importantly, they carry a mystical trail that has rarely been awarded to any other type of amphibian.

True salamanders are one of the large families tailed amphibians, including 40 species, grouped into 16 genera. They are characterized by posteriorly concave (opisthocoelous) vertebrae, the presence of teeth on the upper and lower jaws, and well-developed eyelids. Adults have lungs but no gills. This includes both completely terrestrial and aquatic species. Distributed in Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America.

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Spotted or fire salamander(Salamandra salamandra) is the most famous and widespread species, inhabiting Central and Southern Europe, North Africa (Algeria, Morocco) and the western part of Asia Minor. Within the USSR it is found in western parts Ukraine, where it lives in the mountainous and foothill regions of the Carpathians.

The total length of the salamander is up to 25-28 cm, usually about 20-22 cm, of which less than half is the tail, which is round in cross section. The feet are short but strong, with 4 toes on the front and 5 on the hind limbs. Swimming membranes never happen. On the sides of the bluntly rounded muzzle are large black eyes. Behind the eyes lie convex elongated glands - parotids. The color is shiny black with bright yellow spots irregular shape. The location and size of the spots are extremely variable.

The salamander lives from the foothills to 2000 m above sea level. Stays along wooded slopes and banks mountain rivers and streams, in beech forests littered with windfall. Avoids dry and open places. During the day it hides in the mossy forest floor, in burrows, under fallen trees, in rotten stumps or under stones. It comes out to feed at dusk and at night, but in the rain, when the humidity is high, it leaves its shelter during the day, for which it received the local name “rain lizard” in the Carpathians. It is very resistant to low temperatures, and cold torpor occurs at a temperature of 2-4°. In nature it appears at air and soil temperatures of about 9°. It does not tolerate high temperatures well, and the salamander can tolerate 20-26° only with sufficiently high air humidity (above 90%). It avoids direct sunlight and always hides in the dark when kept in a terrarium.

It feeds on various invertebrates, primarily earthworms, naked slugs, woodlice, nodule, and insects. Salamanders overwinter under the roots of trees, in rotten stumps, under heaps of leaves, where they can gather several dozen in one place. Near warm underground springs, among stones and in small caves, hundreds of salamanders were found wintering in one place. The timing of wintering depends on the temperature conditions of the habitat. In the foothills of the Carpathians, salamanders disappear at the end of November and even at the beginning of December, and in the mountains - in October. During prolonged thaws, they can temporarily leave their winter shelters and crawl to the surface. Spring awakening occurs in the foothills in March, and in the mountains in April - May.

The reproduction of salamanders has not been fully studied. It is known that internal fertilization can occur both in water and on land. On land, the female and the male wrap themselves around each other, bring the cloaca closer together, and the spermatophore enters the female’s spermatheca, located in the anterior-superior part of the cloaca, where sperm can be stored for a long time. In the water, the male lays a spermatophore, which the female captures with the cloaca. The timing of mating is greatly extended and, obviously, occurs throughout the entire period of activity, from spring to autumn.

Fertilized eggs develop in the lower parts of the female's oviducts until the larvae hatch, which takes about 10 months, so that eggs fertilized this year produce larvae the following year. At the same time, the female’s oviducts can contain both fully formed larvae and eggs at different stages of development. The earliest known date for the birth of larvae is early February. The mass appearance of larvae was noted for foothill areas in May, for high mountain areas - in July. There are also cases of larvae being born in July and August.

Shortly before the birth of the larvae, females gather on the banks of reservoirs and enter the water, choosing such coastal areas of mountain streams where there is enough pure water, but there is no strong current. One female gives birth to from 2 to 70 larvae, usually about 50, in several stages over 7-10 days. The larvae emerge from the cloaca still in the egg shells, but at the moment of laying such an egg they break the shells and swim away. In captivity, there are known cases when a salamander laid eggs with not yet formed larvae, which within a few days completed their development in eggs laid in water.

A newly born spotted salamander larva reaches 26-35 mm in length and weighs about 0.2 g. It has a large round head, a high, laterally compressed body, a long, flattened tail, trimmed with a wide fin fold that turns into a crest on the back. The limbs, like the three pairs of external feathery gills, are well developed.

In nature, the larval period lasts all summer, and metamorphosis ends in August - September, when the larvae reach 50-60 mm in length. In captivity, at a temperature of 18-20°, the larval period lasts about 45 days; at a temperature of 15-18° - about 60 days. Before the end of metamorphosis, the larvae begin to crawl along the bottom, often rising to the surface of the water for air. Their gills begin to shorten, the color darkens, becoming slate-gray with dirty white spots, gradually turning yellow. Finally, their gills and fin folds completely disappear, and they switch to a terrestrial existence. They become sexually mature at 3–4 years of age. The lifespan of salamanders is quite long, since they have few enemies thanks to the poisonous secretions of the skin glands. In the wild there are salamanders 8-9 years old. There are known cases when salamanders lived in a terrarium for 15-18 years.

Alpine or black salamander(Salamandra atra) is similar to the spotted one, but differs from it in its slimmer build, uniform, spotless, shiny black color. The total length is 13-18 cm. The black salamander is widespread in the Alps and adjacent mountain ranges at altitudes from 600 to 3000 m. It lives along the banks of mountain streams under the protection of bushes and stones.

Like the spotted salamander, it is viviparous, but only two developing larvae go through all stages of development in the mother’s body up to and including complete metamorphosis, which lasts about a year. 30-40 eggs enter the female’s oviduct from the ovaries, but only two eggs develop (one in each oviduct), and the remaining eggs merge into a common yolk mass used for nutrition developing embryos. Initially, in the egg shells, the embryos feed on the yolk of their own eggs, and after leaving the shells, they swim in the general yolk mass and eat it, using it entirely at the time of birth. The gills of the embryos of the black salamander, when they swim in the yolk mass, are extremely large and highly branched, exceeding half the length of the larva in length, but by the time of birth they disappear. P. Kammerer, in his famous experiments, managed to grow black salamander larvae in water, removing them from the female’s oviducts at a stage corresponding to the stage of birth of larvae in the spotted salamander. Later observations showed that the black salamander, at the lower limit of its distribution in the mountains, sometimes lays incompletely developed larvae in the water, which develop and metamorphose in the water. P. Kammerer also showed that at temperatures below 12° the spotted salamander also delays the birth of its young and they undergo part of the development in the oviducts that they usually complete in water bodies. With his experiments, P. Kammerer wanted to prove that the features of biology, including reproduction, are formed under the influence external conditions and are adaptive.

Caucasian salamander(Mertensielea caucasica) lives here in Western Transcaucasia and adjacent parts of Western and Southwestern Asia, at an altitude of 500 to 2800 m. It is a relatively small, barely 19 in length, slender salamander, with a long tail noticeably longer than the length of the body. It is shiny brown-black above with yellow oval spots on the back and sides, and brown below.

It lives near mountain rivers and streams; during the day it hides under stones, branches of bushes and in crevices of the soil. Active at night, when it feeds on earthworms, amphipods, woodlice, centipedes, mollusks, insects and their larvae. Likes to lie in shallow water with its head out. Runs quickly on land, resembling a lizard. When caught by the tail, it sometimes throws it away, and after a while the tail is restored.

In June, in quiet dams of mountain streams, where the water temperature is 12-14°, it lays about 90 large eggs, 5-6.5 mm in diameter. Heaps of eggs are usually glued to leaves or stones that have fallen to the bottom. The timing of mating and egg development is unknown. Mating probably occurs in the spring. In males, on the upper surface of the tail, at its base, there are special glands that secrete a secret that excites the female. There are rollers on the shoulders that serve to better hold the female during internal fertilization. The larvae have a longitudinal groove on the back and a poorly developed fin fold on the tail.

Lusitanian salamander(Chioglossa lusitanica), living in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, is also quite land species, living in shady forests. It is distinguished by a slender body and a very long tail, which is twice as long as the body. It runs nimbly, like a lizard, and can even jump from stone to stone. The tongue of the Lusitanian salamander, attached at the anterior end, like that of frogs, is thrown forward by 2-3 cm.

Spectacled salamander(Salamandrina ter-digitata), native to Northern and Central Italy, is characterized by four-toed forelimbs and hindlimbs and a reddish-yellow spectacle-like pattern above the eyes. Like the previous species, it occurs in water short period, in early spring, during egg laying. Like the Lusitanian salamander, it hides during the dry summer months and possibly hibernates in summer. Against, hibernation is very short-lived, and in some years salamanders are active all winter.

Salamanders of the genus Tylototriton, 6 species of which are distributed in Southeast Asia, mainly in high mountain regions, have not been studied at all. These beautiful black and red or yellow salamanders do not have webbing between their toes, their tail fin folds are poorly developed, and they probably lead a terrestrial lifestyle.

Species leading a more or less aquatic lifestyle are grouped into the genera Triturus, Pleurodeles, Pachytriton, Paramesotriton, Taricha, Neurergus, Euproctes, Diemictylus, Cynops, Notophthalmus, Hypseletriton. The most extensive genus Triturus includes 9 species of true newts, the remaining genera contain 1-3 species each of American, Asian and southern European newts.

Common newt(Triturus vulgaris) is one of the smallest newts, its total length reaches 11 cm, usually about 8 cm, of which about half is the tail. The skin is smooth or fine-grained. The color of the upper side of the body is olive-brown, the lower side is yellowish with small dark spots. There are longitudinal dark stripes on the head, of which the stripe passing through the eye is always clearly visible. Coloring of males in mating season becomes brighter and a scalloped crest grows from the back of the head to the end of the tail, usually with an orange border and a blue stripe with a pearlescent sheen. This fin fold is not interrupted at the base of the tail. Lobate edges form on the toes of the hind paws. The female does not have breeding colors or a dorsal crest, but the color becomes brighter. The male's crest is an additional respiratory organ and is especially rich in cutaneous capillary vessels.

Distributed from France, England and Southern Sweden to Western Siberia inclusive. The easternmost points of location lie at 90° east. in the north of the Altai Territory. The northern border of the range within our country passes through South Karelia, Vologda, Kirov, Tyumen, Omsk and Tomsk regions. Southern - from the Black Sea (not in Crimea) to the north of the Volgograd, south of the Saratov and west of the Orenburg region. In the Caucasus, it inhabits areas south of the line Novorossiysk - Krasnodar - Stavropol - Lenkoran, but does not rise into the mountains above 1200-1500 m.

It lives in deciduous and mixed forests, as well as in forest-steppe, where it adheres to bushes, beams, parks and other shaded places. It avoids open steppes and fields and, with the reduction of forest area in Ukraine and the Volga region, disappeared from a number of areas.

Spends spring and early summer, i.e., an extended breeding season, in reservoirs, then moving to land. The period of stay in water lengthens as it moves from the southwest to the northeast of the range. In the Vologda region and Western Siberia, it spends almost the entire summer in water.

The reservoirs that newts choose are small lakes, oxbow lakes, ponds, ditches, streams, holes filled with water, etc. After leaving the reservoirs, newts stay in the wettest shady places. During the day, they hide under the loose bark of fallen trees, in rotten stumps, under heaps of brushwood and leaves, and sometimes in rodent burrows. At night, rarely during the day after rain, they feed on land. They are apparently active in reservoirs around the clock. Here, in May - June, it is most often possible to see newts, animatedly swimming in the water and periodically rising to the surface for air. It is very rare to see a newt on land, except perhaps immediately after a warm July rain on a forest path. At the same time, the number of common newts in the middle zone of the European part of our country is very large. Thus, in hunting ditches it makes up 20 - 30% of all amphibians caught in them and ranks second or third in number, usually second only to grass and pointed-faced frogs. There are few newts only in the years after little snowy but frosty winters, as a result of which newts die in their wintering areas.

The food of newts differs sharply in composition during their aquatic and terrestrial existence. Living in water for 1.5-3 months, newts feed on mosquito larvae (long-legged, biting, pushers), which in different places make up from 14 to 90% of all food in terms of occurrence. Great importance Newts' diet may include lower crustaceans (isopods, cladocerans and other crustaceans), found in 18-63% of newt stomachs, dragonfly larvae (20-26%), rowing bugs (24%), swimming beetle larvae (20%) , aquatic mollusks (11-15%), fish and frog caviar (up to 35%). During their stay on land, before leaving for the winter, i.e. 2-4, 5 months, newts feed on centipedes (15-18%), oribatid mites (9-20%), earthworms (5-28%), caterpillars (6-10%), insects (4-9%) and other terrestrial invertebrates.

Newts go to wintering (in piles of leaves, holes of rodents and moles, sometimes basements and cellars) on various days in October. More often they winter in small groups of 3-5 individuals, but in cellars and underground, if they are located near a reservoir, sometimes several tens or hundreds of newts gather. Typically, the distance from the reservoir to the wintering site does not exceed 50-100 m. In Western Siberia, cases of wintering in non-freezing reservoirs have been noted.

They leave wintering grounds in late March - early April in the south of the range and April - May in the north. This is one of the species of our amphibians most resistant to low temperatures. Usually emerges from wintering grounds at an air temperature of 8 - 10° and appears in water at a temperature of 4-7°. In the spring you can sometimes find a newt crawling along the icy edges towards the water, or meet it at dawn, when the ground is covered with frost from the morning frost. In the experiment, they lose mobility at a temperature of about 0°. Living in captivity, they emerge from the terrarium litter in early spring, when the surface temperature rises to 8-9°. The preferred temperature in the experiment is also one of the lowest for our amphibians, 23.5°. TO high temperatures, especially out of water, quite sensitive.

From wintering sites, newts head to reservoirs, where after 5-9 days they begin to reproduce, which happens at various times in April or early May. At this time, the water temperature is about 10°. Males acquire the nuptial plumage described above at the end of wintering and in the very first days of entering the water. Fertilization of eggs is preceded by lively mating games. At the same time, the animals stay in pairs, swim together, sometimes snuggling, sometimes moving somewhat away from each other. The male moves his tail quickly, often striking the female on the sides. As a result of these games, the male lays gelatinous packets - spermatophores containing sperm. It attaches spermatophores to surrounding objects in the water or deposits them on the bottom. The female, excited by the games, finds them and grabs them with the edges of the cloaca. In the cloaca, the spermatophore is placed in a special pocket-shaped recess, the so-called spermatheca. From here, sperm descend, fertilizing the eggs emerging from the oviducts.

Each female lays from 60 to 700 eggs, most often about 150 eggs during the entire breeding season. The diameter of the egg without shell is 1.6-1.7 mm. The female lays each egg on a leaf of an underwater plant, part of which she then bends with her hind legs, so that the egg is hidden between two leaves of the leaf. Sticking to the mucous membranes of the egg, the bent leaf remains in this state until the larva hatches (Fig. 20).

The larva appears on the 14-20th day. Its length is about 6.5 mm. When the larva hatches, it has a distinct tail surrounded by a fin fold, rudimentary forelimbs and feathery external gills. She does not have a sucker, but on the sides of her head there are glandular outgrowths - balancers, which quickly disappear. During the first hours she is inactive, but by the end of the first day of life she has a mouth opening, and on the second day her mouth breaks through and she begins to actively feed. The larvae do not differ from adults in their feeding habits; they are also predators, but they attack smaller animals. Still very small, newt larvae, hiding in the thickets, wait for their prey - small crustaceans or mosquito larvae and with a sharp lunge they rush at it, mouth wide open. Predation among juvenile newts is possible because the larvae emerging from single eggs laid at large intervals over large spaces do not form large aggregations and can be provided with food. The nature of nutrition determines the structural features and development of the larvae of tailed amphibians, including the common newt, distinguishing them from tailless amphibians. Thus, the mouth of newt larvae is no different from the mouth of adults, the length of the intestine is correspondingly equal to its length in adults, and the eyes are well developed. On the second day of hatching, the gill slits open along with the mouth. External gills develop and function throughout the larval period of life. The hind limbs appear approximately on the 20th day of larval life. The entire larval period lasts more often than not 60-70 days, and the larva before reaching land has a length of 32-36 mm.

Metamorphosis in the larvae of the common newt, as in all tailed amphibians, occurs gradually, without sharp sudden changes in the structure of the animal. This nature of metamorphosis is determined by the fact that the larva has few larval organs and is similar to adults in lifestyle. During metamorphosis, the animal switches to pulmonary respiration, the gills disappear, the gill slits become overgrown, changes occur in the structure of the skin, and the larva turns into an adult newt.

In some years, especially at the northern borders of its range, the larvae of the common newt do not metamorphose in the summer, but continue to grow, retaining external gills. They overwinter in the larval stage, turning into adult newts only the following summer. This phenomenon is called incomplete neoteny.

Sexual maturity occurs in the second or third year of life. Enemies of newts include snakes, vipers, storks, herons, buzzards, but they still rarely attack newts because of their hidden lifestyle.

The common newt is one of the most useful amphibians, since it destroys a large number of mosquito larvae, including malaria ones.

Crested newt(Triturus cristatus) differs from the common one in its larger size, reaching 18 cm in length (usually 14-15 cm). Its color is darker - brown-black or black on top; the belly is orange with black spots. The leather is coarse grained. During the breeding season, the male's crest, unlike that of the common newt, is jagged and interrupted at the base of the tail. On the sides of the tail, males who have “put on” their breeding plumage have a bluish-white stripe. Females often have a thin yellow line along the back, but always without a crest.

Distributed, like the common newt, almost throughout Europe, with the exception of the Iberian Peninsula and the north of Scandinavia, but does not penetrate so far to the east, reaching only the southern part Sverdlovsk region. On the contrary, it is more widespread in the Caucasus; is in Crimea.

Like the previous species, it is associated with forests, parks, and shrubs; it is also found in cultural landscapes of wide river valleys and, probably, gets along more easily in open spaces than the common newt.

Spends spring and early summer in reservoirs, moving to land from mid-June. Prefers small forest lakes, oxbow lakes, ponds, water holes, sedge and peat bogs, and ditches. Having left the pond, crested newts hide during the day in rotten stumps, under the bark of fallen trees, in pits with sand and fallen leaves, in rodent burrows, and underground passages of moles. In water it is active both day and night. On land it is active only at night.

The crested newt is not particularly numerous. It is usually 4-6 times less than ordinary. Only in the forest-steppe zone, where the conditions for it are obviously the best, are there 2-3 times less of it than the common newt. It makes up 4-15% of the number of all other amphibian species.

In the water, crested newts feed on water beetles (diving beetles, whirligigs, water lovers), which are found in 12-20% of stomachs. Shellfish, especially peas, are of great importance in nutrition. They often eat mosquito larvae, water bugs, dragonfly larvae, eggs of amphibians and fish, small crustaceans, and tadpoles.

It feeds little on land. Up to one third of newts caught on land have empty stomachs. They serve as prey on land earthworms(up to 65%), slugs (12-22%), insects and their larvae (20 - 60%), sometimes young newts of other species that have just come ashore.

Crested newts leave for the winter late - in October, when the air temperature drops to 6-4° and there are frosts at night. It is not uncommon to find active crested newts as early as early November. This is the most low-temperature-resistant European species of amphibian, not losing mobility even at 0°C. It also has the lowest preferred temperature in the experiment (+19.4-20.6°). Crested newts overwinter in the same places as common newts: under a thick moss cover, in rotten stumps, root passages, rodent and mole burrows, in sand pits, basements and cellars. Sometimes several dozen animals gather in one place, but more often they spend the winter in small groups. Wintering sites have been recorded in non-freezing streams with springs. The latter is possible due to the fact that the crested newt has a very highly developed network of capillary vessels of the skin, which have a respiratory function. The length of the skin capillaries in this species is 73.7% of the total length of the capillaries of the entire respiratory surface (lungs, oral cavity, skin).

In spring, newts appear more often in April; in the south of the range - in March, and in the north - at the end of April. At this time, the air temperature is 9-10°, and the water temperature is about 6°.

From wintering sites, crested newts often go to water bodies together with common newts, but they choose deeper places in the water body. If there are two bodies of water in the area, one of which is deeper and larger, then the crested newt prefers the latter, while the common newt prefers a shallower, well-warmed one.

3-10 days after arriving in the pond, newts begin to reproduce. By this time, males acquire full breeding plumage with a high crest on the back and tail. This crest, like that of the common newt, is very rich in capillary vessels and serves as an additional respiratory organ. After mating games, males lay spermatophores, attaching them to the bottom or underwater objects. The female grabs the spermatophore with the cloaca, it enters a pocket-shaped depression - the spermatheca, from where the sperm, descending, fertilize the eggs passing from the oviducts.

The female lays from 80 to 600, more often about 150-200 eggs, attaching them singly or in short chains of 2-3 eggs on the underside of leaves, branches and other objects floating in the water. It often lays them on the leaves of aquatic plants, but does not wrap them in leaves, as females of the common newt do. The eggs in the shells are somewhat elongated: their width is 2.0-2.5, length - 4.0-4.5 mm.

The larva hatches from the egg after 13-15 days, having a length of 9-10 mm. It has clearly visible rudimentary forelimbs, a tail surrounded by a swimming membrane, and on the sides of its head feathery gills and paired long outgrowths - balancers. During the first hours of life, it is inactive and hangs, attached by balancers to underwater objects or plants. By the end of the second day, her mouth breaks out and she begins to actively swim and feed. After about three weeks, the larva develops its hind limbs. The crested newt larva is clearly distinguished from the common newt larva by its long tail filament and very long inner toes. Apparently, with these long fingers the larvae cling when moving among thickets of aquatic plants. During metamorphosis, the long cartilaginous thread into which the terminal phalanges of the fingers continue disappears and the fingers become sharply shortened. The development of crested newt larvae lasts about 90 days, metamorphosis ends when the animal has a total length of 40 to 60 mm, and proceeds in the same way as in the common newt. In some cases, metamorphosis may be delayed, and the larvae overwinter, metamorphosing the next year, having a length of 75-90 mm. They become sexually mature in the third year.

The crested newt has few enemies, due to the fact that the secretions of its skin glands are highly poisonous. Occasionally it becomes prey for snakes, storks and herons. In captivity it lives 10-12 years.

Carpathian newt(Triturus montandoni) is characterized by the complete absence of a ridge on the back, even during the breeding season. The upper part of the body is angular due to two skin folds running along the sides. In cross section the body is almost quadrangular. There are three longitudinal grooves on the flat head. The total length is about 8 cm, of which half is the tail. In females, the tail ends in a pointed protrusion, and in males it ends in a thin thread, which noticeably increases in size during the breeding season. The skin is slightly tuberculate, colored olive-brown or brownish-brown on top with vague dark spots. The belly is orange, without spots.

Distributed in the Carpathians and adjacent mountainous countries. In our country it is found only in Western Ukraine, in the mountainous and foothill regions of the Carpathians. Inhabits from the foothills to the highest peaks of the Carpathians. Lives on damp, shaded mountain slopes and damp depressions in treeless meadows.

The most typical bodies of water where newts settle for the breeding season are shallow backwaters along the banks of mountain rivers, large puddles of melt water on mountain slopes, watering wells with springs at the bottom, and less commonly lakes and reservoirs. The water in such reservoirs is clean, of low temperature, usually not exceeding 10°.

On land, Carpathian newts stay in damp, shaded places in the forest zone, hiding during the day in the forest litter, moss cover, in old stumps, under logs, and in piles of stones.

In water they feed mainly on the larvae of mosquito mosquitoes (“bloodworms”), which are found in 80-85% of stomachs; they eat small quantities of daphnia, copepods, caddisfly larvae, centipedes, swimming beetles, etc. On land they feed on small beetles, spiders, earthworms and other terrestrial invertebrates.

They leave reservoirs in mid-June; in the upper mountain zone - at the end of this month or at the beginning of July. They leave for the winter in September - October, climbing into shelters similar to summer ones. Among the stones sprinkled with earth, up to 250 newts were found gathered in one place.

In April, they leave wintering grounds and come to reservoirs when the water temperature in them is barely above zero. Carpathian newts can be seen in the melt water of puddles, on the edges of which there is still snow, and animals can be observed crawling along the bottom of puddles, covered from the surface with thin ice.

Egg laying begins in late April - early May, and high in the mountains - in early June. Fertilization and laying of eggs occur as in other newts, while the female Carpathian newt, like the common one, wraps the egg in a leaf or blade of grass under water. One female lays from 100 to 250 eggs with a diameter of 2.2-2.8 mm. The eggs develop in about 30 days at a temperature of 15-17°. The larva develops in water for about three months and completes metamorphosis, reaching 40-42 mm in length. In the highlands, the larvae do not have time to complete development during the hatching season and overwinter in the reservoir, metamorphosing the following summer. In places where Carpathian newts live together with common ones, hybrids between them are known. From above, the hybrids are similar to the Carpathian newt, but their abdomen is spotted, like an ordinary one.

Alpine newt(Triturus alpestris) is one of the most beautiful newts. The smooth skin of the male's back is dark greyish-brown with a blue tint, brightest in the middle of the back, where the low crest runs. There are a number of dark blue spots of irregular shape on the sides. Cheeks and limbs are also spotted. The belly and throat are fiery orange. The ridge of the back, which turns into the fin edge of the tail, appears checkered due to alternating light and dark almost rectangular spots. The tail is bluish-gray at the top, olive-gray at the bottom, and has blue spots scattered on its edge. Females are less brightly colored and do not have a dorsal crest. Length is about 9 cm, half of which is on the tail.

Distributed in Central Europe from Central Spain, Northern Italy and Greece north to Denmark and east to the Carpathians inclusive. In our country it is found only in Western Ukraine, in the mountainous and foothill regions of the Carpathians. Like the Carpathian newt, it lives from the foothills to the very tops of the mountains, occupying all kinds of shady and damp places. In the northeastern and northern regions In the Carpathians, this newt is rare, on the contrary, in the southeast and south of the Soviet Carpathians - in Bukovina, the alpine newt is the most numerous species of tailed amphibians.

Appears in reservoirs in March, April or early May, depending on altitude. Leaves the reservoir at the end of July - in August. It winters on land, in the forest floor, under stones and fallen tree trunks.

In water it feeds on daphnia (35-40%), larvae of mosquitoes (25-30%), biting mosquitoes (10-15%), larvae of caddis flies (10-15%), flies (10%), as well as mayflies , mollusks, shell crustaceans, stonefly larvae, etc. The food of the Alpine newt is very diverse, which distinguishes it from other species that live with it. On land it feeds on earthworms, naked slugs, spiders, and insects.

Lays eggs on different days of May, depending on the altitude of the habitat. It is indiscriminate in water bodies and often breeds in polluted ditches. The eggs are laid in small groups, 3-5 pieces, among the leaves of aquatic plants. One female lays about 100 eggs with a diameter of 1.2-1.3 mm. The larvae hatch after 16-20 days, have a length of 5 - 7 mm. By mid-August, having reached 20-24 mm in length, they complete metamorphosis and leave the reservoir. High in the mountains, the larvae remain for the winter; There are cases when the larvae remained in the water for several years, reaching sizes of 7-8 cm, i.e., the phenomenon of partial neoteny was noted.

Marbled newt(Triturus marmoratus), common in Portugal, Spain and France, is also very beautiful. The color of the upper side and sides of the body is green with a black marbled pattern. Male dorsal crest and top part The caudal fin is covered with alternating black and white vertical stripes. A silvery-white stripe runs along the sides of the tail. Instead of a dorsal crest, the female has an orange-yellow or red groove along her back. Its lifestyle is similar to that of the common newt.

Common in Spain, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany filamentous, or membranous, newt(Triturus helveticus) is interesting for some features of its structure. A long thread-like process protrudes from the blunt end of the tail, longitudinal ridges stretch on both sides of the ridge, and the toes of the hind legs are connected by a swimming membrane. In males in breeding plumage, instead of a crest, a small protrusion is formed on the back, which turns into an upper border on the tail. The upper side is olive-brown in color, the sides are yellowish with a metallic sheen, and the lower part of the sides is shiny white, with an orange stripe running along the belly. On the sides of the tail, between two longitudinal rows of dark spots, stripes of a bluish tint appear.

Another European species - spanish newt(T. boscai) also lacks a crest.

Probably the most beautiful of the newts - Asia Minor newt(Triturus vittatus). Males have a very high, jagged crest that ends abruptly at the base of the tail. The upper side of the body of males in breeding plumage is a magnificent bronze-olive color with dark spots. A silver stripe protrudes sharply on the sides of the body, bordered above and below by darker stripes; On the sides of the tail there are two dark longitudinal stripes, which then turn into one longitudinal row of dark spots elongated across. The belly is orange-yellow or orange-red. Asia Minor newts reach 14 cm in length.

Distributed in the Western Caucasus and Asia Minor, where it lives at altitudes of 600-2750 m, apparently conducting all year round in the water, where it winters. It prefers clean, flowing reservoirs with rich aquatic vegetation at altitudes of about 1000 m. After wintering, it appears at the end of March and lays eggs in April. The larvae metamorphose, having a length of 28-32 mm. The lifestyle has been little studied.

Spiny or ribbed newt(Pleurodeles waltli), which belongs to a special genus close to salamanders, is interesting in that a series of tubercles are formed on the sides of its body on each side, through which the pointed ends of the ribs protrude. The skin is granular, rich in glands. There is no dorsal ridge, and the tail is trimmed with small fin folds. The color is brown with vague spots on the back. The belly is buffy with small dark spots. There are orange-red spots on the sides of the body surrounding the protruding ends of the ribs. Length 20-23 cm, slightly less than half of which is on the tail.

Distributed in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, where it lives in ponds, lakes, and ditches. Obviously, it leads both aquatic and terrestrial lifestyles, but is better known as the newt, which can not leave the reservoir for years. It breeds in February - March and again in July - August, laying about 1000 eggs over two breeding periods. The female eggs are attached to plants in the form of short chains. Lives well in aquariums; There are cases where spiny newts lived in captivity for up to 20 years.

Another species of the same genus, Pleurodeles poireti, is common in North Africa.

The genus of so-called mountain newts(Euproctes) contains three species, two of which are limited in their distribution to the islands of Corsica (E. montanus) and Sardinia (E. platycephalus). Great Pyrenean newt(Euproctes asper) is common in the Pyrenees mountains, at altitudes up to 2000 m. It lives in clean mountain lakes and streams. During the breeding season, the male firmly grasps the female with his forepaws and grabs her with his teeth, transferring the spermatophore into the female’s cloaca. Large eggs, about 2.5 mm in diameter (without shells), are laid singly on underwater plants or stones.

Asian newts The genera Cynops (4 species in Japan and China), Pachytriton (1 species in Southeast China), Hypselotriton (1 species in Southern China), Neurergus (1 species in Asia Minor) are almost completely unstudied. Only fire-bellied newt(Cynops pyrrhogaster), which is often kept in aquariums due to its beautiful coloration, chocolate on top and bright red below, as well as its mobility and funny disposition, is better known than others. After mating, its female lays eggs in March, like our newts.

American newts the genera Taricha (3 species), Diemictylus (3 species) and Nothopthalmus (1-2 species) were previously assigned to the genus Triturus. They really resemble our newts in appearance and lifestyle, but they also have some features.

California newt(Taricha torosa) and related species (T. rivularis, T. sierrae) are common on the Pacific coast North America.

The California newt, 16 - 19 cm long, brown-fawn in color, lives both on land and in water. In December - March they have a breeding season and newts gather in small forest lakes. The first to arrive are the males, who develop bright breeding colors and caudal fin folds. They meet each female, surrounding her with a dense ring, and begin mating games. One of the males grabs the female with his front paws, sits astride her, and the pair of newts swims together for a long time. At this time, the male rubs his cloaca against the female’s back and strokes her muzzle with his chin. On the male's chin there are special glands that secrete a secretion that excites the female. The male then releases a spermatophore, which the female captures with the cloaca. The female lays small portions of eggs containing from 7 to 29 eggs, 2-2.5 mm in diameter, on underwater plants. The larvae at the time of hatching are 11 - 12 mm long.

Greenish newt(Diemictylus viridescens) and related small newts 7-9 mm long, inhabiting the eastern half of North America, are interesting for the sharp changes in their color and skin structure during periods of life on land and in water. These changes are so great that the same newts caught in water and on land were long considered to belong to different species.

Until reaching sexual maturity, i.e., the first 2-3 years, the greenish newt lives only on land, hiding in the forest floor. It has granular, rough skin, yellowish-red or brownish-red on top and sides with brighter red spots bordered with black. When it enters a pond, it acquires smooth olive-green skin with a row of red eye-shaped spots with black borders. The underside of the body is always orange with small dark speckles. Reproduction occurs in April, when, after mating games, accompanied by the laying of a spermatophore, which the female grabs with the cloaca, she lays 200-275 eggs individually on aquatic plants. After 20-35 days, the eggs hatch into larvae 7.5 mm long. In mid-summer, the larvae metamorphose, and young newts leave the pond, only to return in 2-3 years.

Wikipedia encyclopedic dictionary - includes species of the class Amphibians, common in Great Britain. The class Amphibia in Great Britain includes 8 native species (3 species of tailed and 5 species of tailless). Contents 1 Order Caudata (Caudata) ... Wikipedia

Includes species of the Amphibian class, common in Ukraine. Currently, 20 species have been recorded on the territory of Ukraine. Contents 1 List of species 1.1 Order Caudata (Caudata) ... Wikipedia

Salamander (Salamandra) is an animal of the amphibian class (amphibians), of the order caudate amphibians. Translated from Persian, the name of the animal literally means “burning from the inside.”

Aquatic salamanders feed different types small fish, crayfish, crabs, mollusks, as well as small mammals, insects and amphibians.

Depending on their habitat, some species of salamanders hibernate during the cold season, burrowing individually or in groups into fallen leaves and other decaying 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 different families:

• real salamanders(Salamandridae);
• lungless salamanders(Plethodontidae);
• cryptobranchs(Cryptobranchidae).

Below is a description of several varieties of salamanders:

• Fire salamander , she's the same spotted salamander or ordinarysalamander ( Salamandra salamandra)

the most numerous species on European territory, whose representatives are distinguished by their large size, long life expectancy (up to 50 years in captivity) and bright aposematic (warning) coloring. The length of the salamander, including the tail, ranges from 23 to 30 cm. The main color of the body is black, strewn with contrasting orange or yellow spots, which are located evenly throughout the body, but have an irregular shape. Symmetry is present only on the paws and head. The fire salamander is distinguished from many members of the family by viviparity and fear of water. Animals are forced to descend into reservoirs 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.

• Lusitanian salamander (golden-striped salamander)(Chioglossa lusitanica)

a rare species of amphibian, whose representatives grow up to 15-16 cm in length, but have very a long tail, constituting 2/3 of the total length of the body. The color of the salamander is black, with 2 thin golden stripes or golden spots located in a row along the ridge. The entire surface of the back is dotted with small blue specks. A distinctive feature of the animal is that the Lusitanian salamander catches prey using its tongue thrown forward, just like frogs do. The salamander lives exclusively in the northern regions of Spain and Portugal.

• Alpine salamander (black salamander)(Salamandra atra)

Outwardly it resembles a fiery one, but is distinguished by a more graceful body and uniform black skin color. The body length of adult animals reaches 9-14 cm (sometimes 18 cm). Alpine salamanders live at altitudes of up to 700 meters above sea level, preferring rocky landscapes and the banks of mountain streams. The species' range extends through the central and eastern regions of the Alpine ranges: from Switzerland and Austria to Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro.

• she's the same tarantolina ( Salamandrina terdigitata)

characterized by a V-shaped pattern located on the head, the shape of which resembles glasses. The body color is dark brown, almost black; the “spectacles” can be red, yellow or white. The salamander's abdomen is bright red, which the animal demonstrates to the enemy as a frightening technique. The species' range is extremely narrow: the spectacled salamander can only be found in the south of Italy, in the humid forests of the Apennine Mountains.

• Caucasian salamander(Mertensiella caucasica)

a rare species of long-tailed salamanders with a body length of no more than 15 cm, most which makes up the tail. The body is narrow, brown or black, and 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 is classified as vulnerable and lives exclusively in wooded areas and along the banks of water bodies in Turkey and Georgia.

• Slender salamander(Plethodon richmondi)

It is distinguished by a thick head, graceful physique and strong, developed legs. The salamander's body length ranges from 7.5 to 14.5 cm. The body is brown or black and covered with silvery spots. The salamander lives in the northeastern states of the USA (Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky).

• Spring salamander(Gyrinophilus porphyriticus)

extremely prolific and capable of laying up to 132 eggs. The body, growing 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 United States and Canada in the mountainous regions of the Appalachians.

• Pacific salamander(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 mountain landscapes of Canada, the USA and Mexico.

Subspecies Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica

Subspecies Ensatina eschscholtzii klauberi

Subspecies Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis

• Tree salamander(Aneides lugubris)

grows in length from 7 to 12 cm and has an inconspicuous light or dark brown color. The salamander has a muscular tail, on which it rests, deftly climbing trees, jumping well over short distances and squeaking loudly. The species' narrow habitat is limited American state California and Mexican state Baja California.

• Dwarf salamander ( Eurycea quadridigitata)

This is the smallest salamander in the world. 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 of the American continent.

• Andrias davidianus)

The largest salamander in the world is also the largest amphibian in the world. The length of the body of an adult, including the tail, reaches 180 cm, and the body weight is 70 kg. The Chinese giant salamander lives in water bodies in eastern China.

This animal belongs to the class of amphibians (or amphibians) and the order of caudates. If we translate the term “salamander” from Persian, it means “burning from the inside.”

Outwardly, this amphibian resembles a lizard, but the two animals belong to completely different classes. To distinguish them, you need to understand: the salamander’s skin is always moisturized and soft to the touch, and its limbs are not equipped with claws.

The amphibian's body has an elongated shape and flows evenly into the tail.

Interesting!

In ancient times, there was a belief that the salamander was endowed with an aggressive character and was a poisonous animal that commanded the fire element. Sometimes, in front of the eyes of tired travelers warming themselves by the fire, a small amphibian crawled out of the suddenly extinguished flame. In fact, the fire stopped because of the wet log, and the salamander did not burn only because mucus formed on its body.

Characteristics and structure of the animal

Some species of these amphibians have a dense and strong body (this includes the fire salamander), other representatives have a slender and graceful figure. The size of the smallest amphibian can be 5 cm, the largest reaches a length of one meter 80 cm, including the tail.

The color of amphibians is replete with a wealth of shades. The color range of the animal is brown, yellow, rich light green, light gray and red. The amphibian can be painted in one tone or have different shades that turn into geometric patterns.

The fire salamander is framed in a bright black and orange color and is considered the most aesthetically attractive individual of the entire class.

Absolutely every representative has short legs. The forelimbs of most species, including the fire salamander, have four fingers, and the hind limbs have five. Some varieties have very poorly developed paws, while others have stronger and more athletic paws.

The head of the fire (spotted) salamander has a convex and partly flattened shape. It contains parotids - skin glands that are produced by all amphibians. The secretions produce a poisonous secretion called bufotoxin, which contains alkaloids and substances that cause paralysis in small mammals. The amphibian's black eyes are somewhat bulging, and the eyelids are formed, which is not always observed in other species.

On a note!

The venom of the fire salamander is not at all dangerous to humans. It only causes burning and redness on the mucous membranes. The amphibian venom has an antibacterial effect and is widely used in traditional medicine.

The fire salamander is an animal endowed with an exceptional feature regenerate lost limbs And tail section. On average, an amphibian lives about 18 years, but the duration of existence varies depending on its appearance. The fire salamander, confined in the narrow confines of captivity, can live 50 years.

Most species of amazing amphibians are listed in the Red Book. Many of them are under threat of complete destruction. They are mercilessly exterminated to obtain delicious meat for national cuisine and poison, which treats many pathologies.

Some species live exclusively in water spaces and are endowed with full gills. Such amphibians thrive in the United States, China and the islands of Japan. Other representatives do not have lungs at all, so they breathe using the skin and mucous membranes of the mouth. They live in hot tropical forests, in low mountains, on cultivated plantations and in rural settlements of the New World.

Many representatives have full respiratory system And lead a terrestrial lifestyle. They are widespread in areas of Europe, China and northwest Africa.

The fire salamander likes to explore the territories of deciduous or mixed forests near rivers and lakes. This species is widespread on the European continent and the Middle East. Sometimes the animal can be spotted in Ukraine. The spotted (fire) salamander is extremely slow during the day, when it hides in decrepit stumps, abandoned holes or tall grass. Since she is a cold-blooded animal, she needs to hide from the burning rays of the sun. From mid-autumn until the snow melts in early spring, the fire salamander falls into deep hibernation. The best place Large piles of fallen leaves are used for this purpose. Representatives of the species like to gather in a large group (10-12 individuals) and spend such a cold winter.

This black and orange amphibian feasts on small spiders and she drinks morning dew. The animal does not disdain worms, mollusks, various insects and their larvae. Sometimes it can swallow a small newt or frog. The amphibian itself is dinner for some animals. Its worst enemy is birds and wild boars, who also eat this small animal with great appetite. When an animal is in reservoirs or lakes, it becomes a victim of the sharp fangs of pike and other predatory fish.

The fire salamander's breeding season begins immediately after it emerges from hibernation. Mating games take place on land. During this period, specific sacs with germ cells (spermatophore) are formed on the body of males. When the female presses against the testis, fertilization occurs. A certain number of eggs are laid in the water, the rest remain in the mother's body.

It follows that there are two ways for a fire salamander to be born: origin from the womb of a female and birth from a fertilized egg in an aquatic environment. The small amphibian becomes an adult when it reaches three years of age. They have the opportunity to reproduce.

Peculiarities of development of cubs

Interesting facts about the spotted salamander

The famous ancient Roman writer Pliny the Elder argued that The poison of this amphibian can poison an entire nation. The scientist said that simply touching it would lead to the loss of all hair on skin. If a spotted salamander somehow gets into a source of fresh water, the poison will remain there forever. Only in the 17th century AD did scientists prove the harmlessness of the spotted amphibian. She never attacks first, but under stress she is capable of spreading a protective substance with an almond odor.

In one book about the spotted salamander, several far-fetched poetic sayings can be emphasized.

• IN sunny days the amphibian does not leave the cool and dark shelter. Those who plan to commit a crime under cover of night behave in a similar way.
• The salamander is not a lizard, but belongs to the class of amphibians. In the same way, one should not confuse foul language with a demon from the depths of hell.
• If hair falls out from the venom of a spotted salamander, then a person’s honor and good name are lost from slander.
• They say the fire (spotted) salamander only reproduces when there is a strong thunderstorm. Similarly, during riots, ignorant people try to achieve some position in society.
• Beautiful spots on the back of an animal can symbolize hypocrisy, which always wears an attractive mask.

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. Studying these incredible creatures made it possible to dispel the myths that 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

First Full description 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 by 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, for example, 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 all life path Naturalists have not yet succeeded in identifying an individual individual. In captivity proper care a salamander can please 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 fire salamander's range extends throughout the entire territory 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 decreasing. Due to its extreme 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 untouched by man forested areas 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 mainly leads night look life, as extreme heat and direct sunlight can be fatal to him. 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 installing rainy weather, 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 severe stress in the future. favorable days. 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 salamanders living in the wilderness to become more independent from aquatic environment. After reproducing the offspring, the female no longer cares about him and his food.

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