Animal Profiles
Amphibians

Fire Salamander

Salamandra salamandra

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

The fire salamander is a dark European amphibian marked with yellow or orange. It usually emerges from damp shelters on mild nights.

Salamandra salamandra

Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Damp wooded habitats in central and southern Europe, with sheltered ground-level retreats.
Habitat
Temperate forest, Rivers and lakes
Diet
Carnivore
Food
Worms, slugs, insects and other invertebrates.

Classification

Common name
Fire Salamander
Browse group
Amphibians
Scientific name or taxon
Salamandra salamandra
Taxon rank
species
Order
Caudata
Family
Salamandridae
Genus
Salamandra
Source classification
Amphibia

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Measurements

Size and speed

Length
15 to 25 cm usual adult total length

Typical adult ranges. Source: Animal Diversity Web.

Three things to know

  • Yellow or orange markings stand out against black skin.
  • It hunts invertebrates on mild nights.
  • Individuals may reuse the same seasonal shelters.

Habitat and range

Damp wooded habitats in central and southern Europe, with sheltered ground-level retreats.

Appearance and adaptations

Bright patches interrupt its black background colour. Its body is longer than its tail, and the legs are stout rather than elongated.

Diet and behaviour

It spends much of its time under logs or in moist crevices. After dark it searches for invertebrate prey and can revisit familiar shelters.

Sources

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