| type | Status | Habitat |
 |
 |
 |
|
AMPHIBIANS |
STABLE |
ASIA |
 Salamanders live in or near water, or find shelter on moist ground and are typically found in brooks, creeks, ponds, and other moist locations such as under rocks. |
 Salamanders eat many small animals, from insects to spiders to worms. They consume several creatures that people consider pests including slugs, mosquito larvae, and flies. |
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One of the biggest threats to fire salamanders is a deadly fungus called Bsal, which makes it impossible for affected salamanders to absorb oxygen through their skin or to eat. Bsal has killed thousands of native salamanders in Europe since it was discovered in 2013, and it is believed to have been brought to Europe by people importing Asian newts to sell as pets.
The fire salamander can protect itself against predators by spraying poisonous liquid from glands behind its eyes-right into the eyes or mouth of an animal it sees as a threat. Its skin also contains glands that release toxins that can kill or sicken an animal that touches it or tries to eat it.
fire salamanders have fiery orange or yellow markings on their black skin. In ancient times, people wrongly believed that they were born in fires. Maybe that's because fire salamanders often hide under logs, and when people gathered those logs to build a fire, salamanders ran out of the flames.