Sal, A Mander

Chinese Giant Salamander

Though my blog is titled, Reptile Raver, I thought I could do a few shout outs to the close cousin of reptiles, the amphibian. To be specific, salamanders. They encompass a wide range of amphibians, about 655 existent and extinct species. Older species are categorized with the order Caudata, while modern day salamanders are ordered under Urodela. The family members of Salamandridae can also be called newts.

Pygmy Salamander

Most salamanders in the northern hemisphere are small, though a few can reach up to five feet long! The smallest salamander, the Pygmy Salamander, was documented to only reaches one to two inches in length in adult hood. They typically lay eggs or larvae when reproducing. Many salamanders are poisonous, and present themselves with bright warning colors to ward off predators. However, regardless of their poison, there is a drink made with salamander which is supposed to be highly hallucinogenic and an aphrodisiac.

Vibrant Poisonous Salamander 

Salamanders may live in or near the water, or they can find refuge on dewy ground to keep their skin nice and moist. They also have specific pores that secrete mucus. This slippery, protective layer prevents bacterial infections and maintains a regular body temperature. This layer also can protect them from predators, as it makes them hard to grip. Despite their living environments, salamanders are often associated in mythology with fire. This is due to their moist skin, which was said to be flame proof.

Amazing Spiderman clip

Salamanders have a special sense of smell which can work with airborne and the water based smells because of their two types of chemical glands that will react to scents in the environment. Their eyes are small in size and less developed so they are more adapted to low light, such as night light. They have no eardrums, but, like frogs, they do have a middle ear which consists of two parts. Unique among vertebrates, the salamander can regenerate its limbs once they are lost. That is why they are currently being studied for medical research to see if their amazing ability can be applied to humans. If you've ever seen Amazing Spiderman, you will get the idea.

Although this information is rather brief, I am talking about an entire family of amphibian. If you have further interest in these creatures, feel free to comment or follow the links below.

Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salamander
            http://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/salamander_facts/58/