The Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra) is probably the most well-known salamander species in Europe. It is black with yellow spots or stripes to a varying degree - some specimens can be nearly completely black while on others the yellow is dominant. In some cases the spots are more orange or red than yellow.
Fire Salamanders live in forests in the hilly parts of southern and central Europe. They prefer deciduous forests, as they like to hide in the fallen leaves, but also at mossy tree trunks. They need clean small brooks in their habitat for the development of the larvae.
Fire Salamanders are active in the evening and the night, but on rainy days they are active in daytime as well. Their diet consists of various insects, spiders, earthworms and slugs.
Distribution
Fire Salamanders are found in most of southern and central Europe. They are most commonly found at altitudes between 400 and 1000 m, only rarely below. However on the Balkan or in Spain they are commonly found in higher altitudes as well.
Nominae Herpetofaunae Europaeae:
Salamandra salamandra (Linnaeus, 1758)
England - Fire salamander, Spotted salamander
France - Salamandre tachetée
Spain - Salamandra commún
Italy - Salamandra pezzata
Netherland - Vuurslamander
Norway - Ildsalamander
Subspecies
Several subspecies of the Fire Salamander are recognized. Most notable are the subspecies fastuosa and bernadezi, which are the only viviparous subspecies - the others are ovoviviparous.
S. s. almanzoris - Spotted Fire Salamander
S. s. bejarae (or hispanica)
S. s. bernardezi (extinct?)
S. s. beschkovi
S. s. crespoi
S. s. fastuosa (or bonalli) - Yellow Striped Fire Salamander
S. s. gallaica - Portuguese Fire Salamander
S. s. gigliolii
S. s. infraimmaculata
S. s. longirostris - Los Barrios Fire Salamander
S. s. morenica
S. s. salamandra (or werneri)
S. s. semenovi
S. s. terrestris - Barred Fire Salamander
External links
Amphibian Species of the World (http://research.amnh.org/cgi-bin/herpetology/amphibia?recordid=EIQAWFPFLYRKLFYY)
Salamandra species are not fossorial like Ambystomatids, but they have been known to dig in moss and forest debris, often when the temperature is high.
Salamandra infraimmaculata is found in the near East, in countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, and Israel.
In Salamandrasalamandra, sexual maturity is usually reached in captivity in the third or fourth year, though some sources report maturity at just 2 years.
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