What Methods Do Fire Salamanders Use to Survive?

The fire salamander gains its name from its habit of hibernating in the crevices of wood and escaping when the wood is used in fires during winter months. The fire salamander was thought to be immune to fire; however, the thin skin of the salamander makes it particularly susceptible to fire.

  1. Salamander Facts

    • The fire salamander is the largest member of the Salamandridae family, growing to between 6 and 12 inches in length, according to Wild Info. The fire salamander is commonly found throughout Europe, except in the United Kingdom, Scandinavia and coastal regions of the Baltic Sea, and in North Africa and areas of the Middle East. To adapt to its habitat, the fire salamander has become comfortable living in temperatures of between 60 and 70 degrees F. Higher temperatures during the summers in North Africa and the Middle East and lower winter temperatures in Central Europe see the fire salamander enter periods of immobility. At higher temperatures the fire salamander shows signs of heat stress.

    Toxins

    • The fire salamander has developed a way of excreting a poisonous toxin to deter predators from attacking it. When under attack, the fire salamander does not escape, but can spray a poisonous toxin to scare the predator away and in some cases kill small predators. Behind the eyes of the fire salamander are large paratoid glands, and rows of poison glands extend over the body of the salamander. In humans, the neurotoxins excreted by the salamander can induce vomiting and periods of temporary blindness.

    Habitat

    • For survival in its habitat, the fire salamander has adapted to hide in moist, dark woodland areas near water for breeding purposes. The fire salamander is a nocturnal animal, moving in darkness to avoid predators. During the daytime fire salamanders hide under logs or rocks and can burrow shallow tunnels underground to maintain a cool, moist environment. When hunting during daylight hours, the fire salamander has developed the ability to hunt by sight, ignoring stationary objects while tracking moving prey. Under darkness the salamander can use the smell of a prey for the purposes of tracking and catching.

    Prey

    • To survive in a woodland environment the fire salamander has developed into an opportunistic hunter, obtaining food from both soft- and hard-bodied small creatures. The prey of the fire salamander includes slugs and worms, alongside insects such as flies, beetles and centipedes. The preferred prey of the fire salamander is often decided during its transformation from larva to adult.