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Yellow signs


Yellow signs
Photo Information
Copyright: Ilias Strachinis (strahos) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 131 W: 19 N: 91] (736)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-08-30
Categories: Amphibians
Camera: Sony DSC-P200
Exposure: f/2.8, 1/40 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Amphibians - Salamanders & Newts 1, Herpetofauna of Greece [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-08-30 11:47
Viewed: 1536
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Fire Salamander

Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Caudata
Family: Salamandridae
Genus: Salamandra
Species: S. salamandra

Binomial name
Salamandra salamandra
(Linnaeus, 1758)


The Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra) is probably the most well-known salamander species in Europe. It is black with yellow spots or stripes to a varying degree; some specimens can be nearly completely black while on others the yellow is dominant. Shades of red and orange may sometimes appear, either replacing or mixing with the yellow according to subspecies. Fire Salamanders can have a very long lifespan. In the German natural history museum of Alexander Koenig a salamander lived for more than 50 years.

Habitat, diet, and Other

Fire Salamanders live in forests in the hilly parts of southern and central Europe. They prefer deciduous forests, as they like to hide in the fallen leaves, but also at mossy tree trunks. They need clean small brooks in their habitat for the development of the larvae. Whether on land or in water, fire salamanders are inconspicuous. They spend much of their time hidden beneath stones, wood or other objects.

Fire Salamanders are active in the evening and the night, but on rainy days they are active in daytime as well. Their diet consists of various insects, spiders, earthworms and slugs, but they also occasionally eat small vertebrates like newts and young frogs. Small prey will be caught within the range of the vomerine teeth or by the posterior half of the tongue, which adheres the prey. The fire salamander can grow to around 8 inches.


Reproduction

Males and females look much alike except during the breeding season, when the most conspicuous difference is a swollen gland around the male's vent. This gland produces the spermatophore, which carries a sperm packet at its tip. The courtship happens on land. After the male becomes aware of a potential mate, he confronts her and blocks her path. The male deposits his spermatophore on the ground. Reproduction occurs by means of this spermatophore, which will be taken up by the female. Their gills develop lungs. Neotenic fire salamanders have not been observed.



Toxicity

Samandarin structure.

Salamanders may actively defend themselves once they are grasped by a predator. Besides various antipredator postures, S. salamandra adults are able to extrude heavy toxic skin secretions, e.g. the neurotoxic alkaloid Samandarin. This alkaloid causes strong muscle convulsions and high-blood pressure combined with hyperventilation in all vertebrates. The poison glands of the Fire salamander are concentrated in certain areas of the body, especially around the head and the dorsal skin surface. The colored portions of the animal's skin usually coincide with these glands. Most of these secretions might be effective against bacterial and fungal infections of the epidermis, but some secretions could also be dangerous to human life.



Distribution

Distribution in Europe

Fire Salamanders are found in most of southern and central Europe. They are most commonly found at altitudes between 400 and 1000 m, only rarely below (in Northern Germany sporadically down to 25 m). However on the Balkan or in Spain they are commonly found in higher altitudes as well.


Notes taken from WikiPedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/

Herpetofauna.gr
cicindela, flashpoint, gracious, boreocypriensis, manyee, zulfu, gpeler, jstewart has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To foozi: Thanks!strahos 1 09-20 06:52
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Ilias, nice capture. Good DOF colorful creature. Thanks for the notes. Well done. Regards - Adil.

nice one, TFS Ori

Hello Ilias!
This is a creature which I always wanted to photgraph, but I met it only when I was without my camera... Moreover, I was in this region from which your picture comes a few weeks ago, but I did not see any salamander.
Very nice close-up with fine details, sharpness and DOF.
My best compliments and greetings from Poland!
Radomir

capture surprising for POV and exceptional details with excellent sharpness!
thanks Ilias for sharing

best sERGIO

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2411 W: 94 N: 5569] (17712)
  • [2008-08-30 12:31]

Hello Ilias,
Very beautiful photo from an excellent low POV. Great sharp focus and DOF. Very good natural and clear colours. Nice composition.
Kind regards,
Peter

Superchapeau..

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2008-08-30 13:23]

What a pretty creature. His bright colours stand out so stronly.
Well done Ilias
Janice

Hello Ilias,
Captured well on this Salamander!
the dof is perfect with perfect sharpness, wonderful colour and details
well done
TFS
greeting
Tony

Yasu Ilias, a real beauty you captured in this time. Really perfect in both shot and notes. I loved this shot since you focused the eyes:) lovely facial expresiion.
Many thanks for sharing this beauty and have a nice sunday!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hi Ilias,

I like the low POV and very nice details of the photo. Natural habitat is great, make nice BG and natural light. Well done friend!

cheers
Adrian

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6168] (21076)
  • [2008-08-30 16:54]

Hi Ilias,
Very nice POV of this colorful salamander.
Good light and focus bring out excellent details on that huge head.
A pleasing presentation of the subject between the green BG and the white rock: the colors just work really well.
TFS. : )

Hi Ilias,
A well composed photo and a good subject. The lighting and colours are very nice.TFS.
Best regards
Alina

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1069 W: 0 N: 162] (870)
  • [2008-08-31 2:36]

Hello Ilias, a lovely and perfect close up shot focused on the eyes. Perfect notes too. TFS and G's,
Mehmet

Hello Ilias,
So interestng. Very nice macro. TFS
Greetings
Gamze:)

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1343 W: 0 N: 2585] (9117)
  • [2008-09-20 5:18]
  • [+]

Hello Ilias,
a very sharp and clear shot of the salamander.
Nice composition of the front with great details and colours.
Very insightful and informative notes.
I see you handled a snake in front page.
it is such an interesting and exciting thing.
you must be a very special person dealing with reptiles.

regards,
Foozi

What a colourfull salamander in a great pose. I like the contrasting texture and shape of the rock that it is on. Two suggestions: blur the background to make it less obtrusive to the viewer; use the burn tool in PS or the equivalent in other programs to darken the over-exposed rock in the lower right.
John

Geia sou Ilia,
Very nice shot, with nice colours and details. Excellent focus on the head and the eyes.
Xairetw,
Katerina
P.S. Thanks for adding "my" turtle in this interesting theme.

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