List of European Salamanders

A salamander is a type of amphibian that has moist, smooth skin and long tails. They are generally small, have narrow heads and small eyes. Salamanders need to stay cool and wet to survive, and are generally found near water or in underground burrows. Dozens of salamander species can be found throughout the world, though there are a few species that live only in various parts of Europe.

  1. Fire Salamander

    • Fire salamanders are one of the largest and most popular type of salamanders in Europe and are a subspecies of the Alpine salamander. They grow anywhere from 5 to 12 inches long and are generally very dark in color with two yellow to red stripes, spots or flecks along the body. These salamanders are generally nocturnal, but may come out during the day after a cool rain. In Europe, these salamanders can be found in Scandinavia, the British Isles, and nearly all other European countries west of the Black Sea. Beware: these salamanders carry a long poison gland down the length of its body for protection.

    Alpine Salamander

    • These salamanders look a lot like their cousins, the fire salamanders. They too are a deep dark color, usually black, and their activity is dependent upon the weather. They hibernate in the winter, but will not come out during the day when it is hot and dry. Alpine salamanders eat insects, spiders, slugs and earthworms. As the name suggests, these salamanders prefer higher altitudes and live in alpine forests in Europe. The Alpine salamander also has poisonous skin and will play dead by imitating a broken neck to defend itself.

    Sardinian Brook Salamander

    • Sardinian brook salamanders are greenish-gray with dark speckles on their backs. They live near running or stagnant waters in forests or caves. They breed, lay eggs and live the first larval stages of life in the water. This species is localized to Sardinia, Italy, though a cousin brook salamander can be found in Corsica. It can only be found on the eastern section of the island. Their populations are dwindling somewhat, and they are listed as endangered species.

    Northern Speckled Salamanders

    • Northern speckled salamanders are also endemic to Italy, though they prefer the Appenine Mountains or the hilly areas around them. Interestingly, only the females are aquatic for part of the year; otherwise, these salamanders run around forests with dense and moist undergrowth. This salamander is particularly small, only measuring somewhere between 1 1/4 and 3 1/2 inches in length. Northern speckled salamanders are usually deep brown or black with a bright red belly and whitish spots. Like other European salamanders, northern speckled salamanders eat worms and snails.