Alpine Newt
Main Characteristics of Salamanders, Newts and Olms
- There are 600 species of salamanders and newts.
- The most well-known include the axolotl, dusky salamander, fire salamander, tiger salamander, giant salamander, pacific newt, easter newt, alpine newt, crested newt, smooth newt, and the olm.
- Most salamanders and newts are found in the Northern Hemisphere, with some also inhabiting the Southern Hemisphere.
- In Australia, there are no salamanders and newts.
- In Germany, both the fire salamander and the alpine salamander can be found.
- The most common newts in Germany include the Alpine crested newt, the alpine newt, the palmate newt, the smooth newt, and the crested newt.
- Salamanders and newts are carnivores. They primarily feed on insects, spiders, and small, invertebrate animals. Salamanders and newts have small teeth.
- Among all amphibians, the Siberian salamander can endure the lowest temperatures. It survives at -31 degrees Fahrenheit (-35 degrees Celsius).
- The giant palm salamander boasts the fastest tongue in the animal kingdom. It can extend it in just 7 milliseconds. That's 50 times quicker than a blink of the eye.
- The mushroom-tongued salamander is the smallest salamander. It measures only one inch (2.54 cm) in length, including its tail.
- The stickiest salamander is the northern slimy salamander. A fluid seeps from its skin. When it is attacked by a predator, this fluid sticks to their mouth, preventing them from being eaten.
- The western newt or Pacific newt is the most venomous salamander. Consuming just 0.00004 ounces (1 mg) of its poison can be fatal to a human.
- The largest salamander is the Chinese giant salamander. An animal named Karlo at the Prague Zoo measured 5 feet (1.58 meters) in length and weighed 77 pounds (35 kg).
- The Alpine salamander is considered the most cannibalistic animal in the world. The female lays up to 60 eggs. The first embryos that develop sufficiently end up eating their siblings. As a result, only a maximum of four young ones are born.
- The Alpine salamander also holds the record for the longest gestation period. It lasts for 37 to 38 months.
