Category: Amphibians
This enigmatic species is arguably the best known salamander species in Europe. It is black with varying proportions of bright yellow stripes and/or spots (and sometimes shades of red and orange). They can be very long lived – one specimen kept in a German natural history museum lived to be more than 50 years old! They prefer to live in deciduous forests, where they can hide in fallen leaves and lurk near mossy tree trunks.
Learn more about the Fire Salamander at Wikipedia and Reptiles Magazine.
Swiss Army Skin
Amphibian skin is not covered in hair, feathers, or scales. It is thin and permeable, which allows them to actually breathe and drink through their skin! Their skin is not watertight, but they have mucous glands that produce secretions to help keep them from drying out Their skin also serves as a handy defense mechanism: nearly all amphibians have poison glands that make their skin toxic - and on top of that, it can even serve as a tasty treat after they shed it (yes, many amphibians eat their own sloughed off skin)!
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