Salamanders – DefinitionThe World Book Encyclopedia definition is:
n. 1. a cold-blooded animal shaped like a lizard but belonging to the same class as frogs and toads, such as the mud puppy of North America. Salamanders have moist, scaleless skin, four short legs, and usually a long tail. The larvae, as well as some adults, breathe by gills. Salamanders live in water or in damp places.
2. a legendary lizard or reptile supposed to live in or be able to endure fire.
3. Figurative. A person who likes or can stand a great deal of heat.
4. a spirit or imaginary being supposed to live in fire (originally hypothesized by Paracelsus as inhabiting fire, one of the four elements).
5. any one of various articles formerly used in connection with fire or capable of withstanding great heat, such as an iron or poker formerly used for lighting a pipe or igniting gunpowder or a plate used for browning puddings: Press them tight into shells or a dish, and brown them with a salamander (Sunday Times).
Comments Our classroom salamander certainly had a “lucky star” over him. He was rescued from the blades of a big ride-on mower at a golf course! I must say that I certainly was surprised when my husband came home, proudly beaming, and announced, “Come see what I brought you!”
We set up a ten-gallon tank for him with a layer of soil, moss, a little sunken pool, and a rock cave. Most of the time he spent in the cave, which was great because the children could still see him. Sometimes he liked to burrow under the moss or under the “pool”. He really was a shiny, slippery creature who definitely looked rubbery.
“Lucky” grew to a good size (about 8"), dining mostly on purchased fisherman’s dew worms. My goodness, he had a big mouth! Crickets disappeared in the tank, and sometimes the floating turtle food too. If I had not seen him eating regularly then I would have returned him sooner! The following June we returned Lucky to his natural habitat. Isn92't that a happy ending!
ResourcesRoberts, M.F. 1976. All about Salamanders T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd.
Related Web SitesSalamanders and Newts - a very good source of info. with care sheets for many different varieties
Melissa Kaplan is a great resource person for many, many different kinds of herps!
http://www.users.interport.net/~spiff/Newt%26Salamander.html
Donna Hill's information about the Pacific Giant Salamander, which is endangered.
http://www.naturepark.com/pgsala.htm
Amphibian Fact Sheet - general info.
http://www.acmepet.com/reptile/library/amphib.html#intr
This interesting article evidently appeared in the news!
http://wp4.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/interact/longterm/horizon/091196/salamndr.htm
In case you miss it, there is also a link to a brief care sheet in that same news article.
http://wp4.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/interact/longterm/horizon/091196/salpet.htm
This article has some detailed information on the anatomy.
http://www.users.interport.net/~spiff/main/resourcestxt/sal&newtres.html
This brief article on Tiger Salamanders has a wonderful photo.
http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/cocomon/sala.html
The San Antonio Zoo has a brief article and a great photo.
http://www.sazoo-aq.org/salamand.htm
Wow! Tons of newt and salamander photos!
http://gto.ncsa.uiuc.edu/pingleto/herps/sally.html
Marc Staniszewski's Amphibian Information Centre
Frogs, Newts, Salamanders... excellent information on a variety of species
http://homepages.enterprise.net/mantella/
The Salamander Chronicles gives some useful information on North American species.
http://www.total.net/~kaymur/
A page devoted to links to salamanders and newts! lots of them!
http://www.users.interport.net/~spiff/main/head/links.html#anchor149116
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