Legend has it , from centuries gone by that Salamanders are related to fire! This connection maybe comes from many Salamanders dwelling in rotting logs .. lending to the belief that Salamanders were created from fire ! It is this belief that gave the creature its name.
As I clicked the camera to take the photo..he slid slowly along the flags towards the stones.
A Salamander has lizard-like appearance with very slender body.
short noses and long tails. Most Salamanders have 4 toes on their front legs and 5 toes on their rear legs. They live near water , their skin is moist. They are fascinating. It head turned slowly to look at me its eyes had lit up with the flash of the camera. Its deep black body with the bright yellow spots standing still as though it was playing dead. They move slowly. At one point, I thought it was going to turn back and come closer to me. I sure was ready to run inside.
Some Salamander species take to the water intermittently, and some are entirely terrestial as adults.
Unique amongs vertebrates, they are capable of regenerating lost limbs as well as other body parts. Many members of the "Salamandridae" are know as " Newts".
I am sure that most have you have seen many of them before.! This as i said, is my second one. Other than on national geographic.
Fossils have been found in China and Kazakhstan dating back to the middle Jurassic period up to 164 million years ago. Wow! Here he has already slithered his way onto the stones. You can just make him out.
He started moving here, and I thought i might get a better shot. I was nervous.
This one I think is a Marbled Salamander (Amystoma opacum) most info courtesy of wikipedia.
A mole salamander of the Ambystomatidae family.
There are ten families belonging to the order Caudata. In recent years , there has been a decline in living amphibian species.. They are also poisonous.
Aristotle , Leonardo da Vinci. "The Talmud" . J.K Rowling amongst others wrote about The Salamander with fire in their writings.
This morning I walked around the garden to see what damage last nights heavy storm had done. I was pleased. Not too much, other than some bushes heavily laden with rain the pool full of leaves and "This".. the first time I have seen a lizard at the bottom of my pool. I tried to get him out..but he keeps swimming away..
I think this little frog, came to visit Freddy!.. He was trying to get out of the pool and I scooped him up and put him onto the open grassy area. I often get frogs in the pool.. but not lizards.!
It started to rain around Midnight.. and stopped at around 8 this morning. Most of the garden gravel is under water.. but that should soak away soon.
The Salamander , Lizard and frog.. all love this weather.
I hope the weather is not too bad where you all are. When we ask for rain, this is what we get, but we sure needed it.
wishing all my blogging friends who visit me a happy Sunday.
Val
Salamander rising from the fire |
MY FIRST TON OF WOOD ARRIVED YESTERDAY.. COULD IT BE! |
As I clicked the camera to take the photo..he slid slowly along the flags towards the stones.
A Salamander has lizard-like appearance with very slender body.
short noses and long tails. Most Salamanders have 4 toes on their front legs and 5 toes on their rear legs. They live near water , their skin is moist. They are fascinating. It head turned slowly to look at me its eyes had lit up with the flash of the camera. Its deep black body with the bright yellow spots standing still as though it was playing dead. They move slowly. At one point, I thought it was going to turn back and come closer to me. I sure was ready to run inside.
Some Salamander species take to the water intermittently, and some are entirely terrestial as adults.
Unique amongs vertebrates, they are capable of regenerating lost limbs as well as other body parts. Many members of the "Salamandridae" are know as " Newts".
I am sure that most have you have seen many of them before.! This as i said, is my second one. Other than on national geographic.
Fossils have been found in China and Kazakhstan dating back to the middle Jurassic period up to 164 million years ago. Wow! Here he has already slithered his way onto the stones. You can just make him out.
He started moving here, and I thought i might get a better shot. I was nervous.
This one I think is a Marbled Salamander (Amystoma opacum) most info courtesy of wikipedia.
A mole salamander of the Ambystomatidae family.
There are ten families belonging to the order Caudata. In recent years , there has been a decline in living amphibian species.. They are also poisonous.
Marbled salamander.. Mole Salamander of the Ambystomatidae family (wikipedia) |
This morning I walked around the garden to see what damage last nights heavy storm had done. I was pleased. Not too much, other than some bushes heavily laden with rain the pool full of leaves and "This".. the first time I have seen a lizard at the bottom of my pool. I tried to get him out..but he keeps swimming away..
I think this little frog, came to visit Freddy!.. He was trying to get out of the pool and I scooped him up and put him onto the open grassy area. I often get frogs in the pool.. but not lizards.!
It started to rain around Midnight.. and stopped at around 8 this morning. Most of the garden gravel is under water.. but that should soak away soon.
The Salamander , Lizard and frog.. all love this weather.
I hope the weather is not too bad where you all are. When we ask for rain, this is what we get, but we sure needed it.
wishing all my blogging friends who visit me a happy Sunday.
Val
Looks like you had fun with your visitor, Val. ;) We definitely see quite a few amphibians in our tropical climate of Florida, especially when it rains.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I hope to have fresh pics for next week's Green Day. Love Fiona and her guests.
Have a nice Sunday.
XOXO's,
Marcia
The visitor was fascinating but eerie.. I grew up with monitor lizzards and Iguanas and all sorts of lizards in S.A.. but the Salamander is creepy.
DeleteYou sure have some strange creatures down your way too.
happy sunday to you too Marcia.
And a happy Sunday to you Val. Great story. I used to keep lizzards as pets and would hide them in a can under my bed because my Mother didn't like them.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I love your picture of your 300-year-old olive tree. Does it still produce?
Oh no Gina..
DeleteI grew up with Iguanas and monitor lizzards in and around my area.. i never liked them.. they stare at us.
Thanks for passing by gina.. always great to get your comments.
the tree is relatively young.. but it gives some olives ..
Hello Val:
ReplyDeleteWe have never seen a Salamander, so your images were fascinating for us. We have always thought them to be quite mystical and exotic creatures and the one you photograph here certainly has those qualities.
We too are not very brave when faced with lizard like creatures, perhaps it is their movements which give us the shivers. However, we are pleased that you were close enough to capture the Salamander for our delight today! Happy Sunday!!
I too always thought the Salamander mystical.. I couldn't believe it when i saw it. I was nervous..how silly.. but they are strange .
DeleteI was happy to get the photo
thank you Jande and Lance
Dear Val - that was a brave thing to do especially when you were feeling so frightened of what you might find. He really is rather a handsome specimen with his shiny black body and yellow spots.
ReplyDeleteI once found a newt in my downstairs cloakroom. My grandson was staying and I thought he was playing a trick on me with one of those rubber ones. I went to pick it up and got a shock when it ran. I do not know how it got inside the house, but I was then able to trick my grandson, who also thought it was a pretend one. He thought it was absolutely wonderful and carefully carried outside for me.
It looks as if you have now received the rain that you were hoping for, the land must be much less parched now.
It reads as though I have never seen a lizard or frog. Truth is.. I grew up with Iguanas and monitor lizards living close to the house..we would pass them often crossing the roads in Africa.. I even used to hold chamelions.. but somehow this black and yellow spotted nute scares me. Its eerie.
DeleteOh my gosh.. I would die, if it was in my house. They do make these animals in rubber today and they look so real. Clever little grandson.
Yes, its been non stop rain now on and off all week. last night the heavens really opened.. the sky is overcast and I am sure there will be more to come.
Thank you Rosemary.. for always leaving such nice comments..
Its a big boost, when we realize that people are reading our posts. and an even bigger boost when they reply.. as we do.
happy sunday
val
Dear Jane and Lance.
ReplyDeleteI am so pleased that you liked to see my mystical Salamander. Just like you, I dont like lizards or frogs they are really creepy.. I was happy however to photo this one in the evening.. its the second i have seen.
Wishing you both a happy sunday
val
i think the salamanders are so cool! :)
ReplyDeleteThey are veery interesting to look at..
DeleteThank you Terese
So much wonderful rain Val, your garden will love it. Then please send it over here to us! The lizard must have seen my blog with our lizards in the pool, and decided to copy :) I did not know what a salamander was so thank you for all the info. It does look a bit on the creepy side. Another great post, thankyou. Enjoy your week. P xx
ReplyDeleteThe rain is so welcome Patricia.
DeleteI didnt see your post about lizard in your pool..will look for it.. I have never had a lizard in the pool.. just frogs and once a snake.
I dont like them.. but the salamander comes so very very rare.
My Dear Val
ReplyDeleteI cam imagine your fright ! You were very brave that you took the camera ...You did't thought if he went inside your home while you was taking your camera ? The photos are great !
I sure did get a fright when i saw it move. I watched him go onto the soil near the roses ..so he didnt come into the house.. i would have died.. x
DeleteVal, when we used to go down to Florida, we would see them everywhere on the screen porches...climbing the sides, the ceiling...and they are fascinating to watch! In Virginia we used to get a different variety but here in CT, I haven't seen any other than NEAR THE WOOD PILES!...:)JP
ReplyDeleteI can imagine that you would have much more Salamanders down in florida.. I know they are around ..but they need water . I would not like to see them in the house
DeleteYes.. i think thats how it came here..when the woodman brought the wood.. scary.
You did a great job capturing that salamander Val! Suzy x
ReplyDeleteThank you Suzy.. I was testing also my new camera.x
DeleteI have lizards, but my cat keeps them away. Don't care much for crawlly things. Have a great day,Val.
ReplyDeleteLizzards live mostly everywhere I think.. but the Salamander is different.
DeleteIts eerie and has strange eyes.. its harmless but i dont like them.
thanks for passing by and leaving your comments Sylvia..
You wouldn't have got me out there! Spiders and mice I can cope with but lizards or newts I can't. I think it has something to do with my Grandad - when I was small' to prevent me from going to see the small pond by the side of the road outside his house, he used to tell me that a strange creature lived there and had a nasty bite. I once disobeyed and went and had a look. I saw a lizard / newt and ran for dear life!
ReplyDeleteJune
It was fascinating to watch this Salamander.. I probably wont see one again for years.
DeleteMust say your grandad did a good job.. at least it kept you away from the water. You could have fallen in.
thanks June..nice comment.
Salamander look a bit like creatures from another planet or indeed from another era.
ReplyDeleteAt my grandmothers hut by the sea we could sometimes see them walking on the ceiling. They were small and transparent somehow. It was good luck to have them in the house for some reason.
Fascinating creatures
I hope you'll have a wonderful week dear Val :)
There must be something in the Myth in Greece.. as here as well in Portugal ..the little clear white newts bring luck and we dont kill them. I dont like them.. they stick to the ceiling..
DeleteThe portuguese call them Osgas. I had a baby one in the house this morning, the mother must be somewhere.!
thank you for passing by Demie,, always so nice to hear from you.
happy Monday
I don't believe that I have ever seen a Salamander, was the verity you saw at your cottage poisonous? I would be afraid too . . . but then I've been known to faint once when I saw a snake in the wild. I got within ten feet of a 14 foot alligator in the wild, but let a garden snake crawl past my foot and the blood rushes from my head. It's a mystery.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day,
Your blogging sister, Connie.
Hi Connie,
Deletewell like I said..this is only the 2nd one i have seen. When i read up about this salamander,it said it was poisonous.
After living half my life in Africa.. I have seen just about everything.. but those creepy things i dont like.. but its a fascinating looking little specimen.
thank you connie.
best of luck with your voting
Val,
ReplyDeleteI never knew the legend of the Salamander. Lizards have always been creepy to me. Sometimes, I will see them in my back yard, and yes, they frighten me too. Jess has a pet lizard who's name is Miles, and she just loves him. As for me, I try to stay away far away from them haha. Have a wonderful week.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley
Oh my gosh.. A lizard in the house.. !!!
DeleteI get lots of lizzards, but not salamanders.. it was eerie.. but its only the second i have ever seen.
thank you Sherie..
Thanks for sharing all your critters with us! I had a snake in my garden all summer!
ReplyDeletenice to see you my side Carol.. I just dont like creepy things close to the house..my dogs keep them away.
DeleteInteresting blog post. Great capture of the Salamander.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful rest of the week.
Greetings!
Heidi
Thank you Heidi,
ReplyDeleteI was pleased with my shots of the salamander it was a night shot.
have a good week too.
So interesting and great that you got to get some photos to share with us.
ReplyDeletethank you for your comments Lindy LouMac
DeleteHow exciting to see a salamander - they are creatures of legend. I'm pretty sure that we don't have them in the UK although we have various kinds of lizards and newts.
ReplyDelete