The
Fire Salamander
is a large urodele, up to 28cm in length with a wide
head and thick, strong legs with non webbed digits,
cylindrical thick tail which is rounded at the end.
Colour is extremely variable according to habitat. There
are three different sub species that are present in
France, S. salamandra terrestris being the most common
all over the country,
It is found almost everywhere in France and is
essentially a creature of woodlands where it lives in
fallen leaves, dense moss and other debris and where
there is a proximity to water. It is absent or rare in
forests that are exclusively conifer, alluvial plains
and areas where the soil is sandy in character such as
coastal dunes. The food of the adults is made up of
earthworms, insects and their larvae, slugs and other
invertebrates to be found in the ground debris, whereas
the larva are more opportunistic and voracious, eating
various aquatic invertebrates including their own
species. They are exclusively nocturnal spending the day
under an old tree stump, in a stone wall or any other
dark cavity, rainfall brings them out in large numbers
and being both slow moving in combination with a
tendency stay still they have a high road accident rate. |
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| Hibernation, if it takes
place, is between October and March but is dependent on
temperature and in milder winters or regions they can remain
active throughout the year, hibernation can be in any
underground cavity and large numbers of individuals can be
found sharing the same place, up to 50 or more has been
recorded. Their skin exudes a toxic substance which can burn
sensitive skin and care should be taken not to touch your
mouth if you have handled one. |
Posted by Bob on August 20, 2009
More local information for those interested in the area.
Location and Climate
Getting here
Environment
General information
To anyone accessing this site for the first time
Breezing is a Blog site operated by a retired single guy living in
the beautiful countryside of Deux-Sevres (South West France).
I have lived here in France for over three years now and my only
regret is not having moved out many years ago.
I live near Puy Hardy which is the smallest village in the
Department with just 33 inhabitants although my property falls under
the control of a larger village called Fenioux.
My house is situated upon a hill and overlooks the River Saumort and
can be summed up in two words. Peace and tranquillity. I awaken each
morning to the sound of birds and during the day nothing more than
the odd tractor engine can be heard. In the still of the night the
only sounds are the ‘pip pip’ of frogs as they call to their
prospective partners.
Feel free to browse this site using the links at
the top of this page.