ponds

In this area of the Lippelobos/Malderenbos, water expanses have been created to attract the fire salamander again.
A large number of small lakes have been created here, because fire salamanders only need water to deposit their offspring. The Fire Salamander does not swim

The fire salamander, also known as the spotted salamander or golden salamander (Salamandra salamandra) is a land-dwelling salamander belonging to the Salamandridae family.

The fire salamander is one of the largest European amphibians and has an unmistakable color pattern; a black color with yellow spots and stripes. [2] The fire salamander has a stocky build and the round tail is relatively short. The contrasting colors serve to scare off other animals; It is quite a poisonous species. There are 14 subspecies that can be distinguished by their range and the different colours and markings.

The development of the fire salamander is special because no eggs are deposited, but partially developed larvae are delivered alive. Sometimes they even come into the world fully developed, which is exceptional for amphibians. The fire salamander is found in large parts of Europe and lives mainly in forested areas in relatively low-lying regions.

The fire salamander is an inhabitant of forests, mainly deciduous forests but also mixed and sometimes coniferous forests. Cool, shady and nutrient-rich forests are most suitable, especially moderately moist sessile-beech forests. The salamander is already active at 10 degrees above zero and has an optimal temperature of about 15 to 20 degrees. In more open areas such as mountainous regions, the salamander is found along the vegetated shores of waters and in meadows. The microhabitat consists of the litter layer of leaves, pieces of bark, tree root and other moist places such as abandoned mouse holes, under stones, in and under fallen tree stumps, in old wells and in moist rock crevices. Fire salamanders do not dig burrows themselves. Man is not shunned; In inhabited areas, natural stone walls are used as shelters.

At the adult stage of life, the fire salamander may be regarded as strictly solitary. Little is known about territorial behavior in adult individuals. Only in winter during hibernation can groups of fire salamanders be found in the same hiding place. Also during the breeding season, the animals seek each other out to produce offspring.

The fire salamander, unlike almost all other salamanders, is a very poor swimmer that never enters the water, except to deposit the larvae. Even here, the salamander does not enter the water, but only submerges the tail and cloaca. The fire salamander is oviviviparous; This means that the embryonic stage (the egg) takes place entirely in the mother as well as part of the larval stage. The gestation period is relatively long and can be up to 8 months. The surviving larvae are deposited by the female at the edge of shallow waters. Depending on her size, a female can give birth to 4 to 75 larvae that are directly provided with gills, on average 33 larvae are born. The female lowers herself backwards half into the water, holding on to the bank with her front legs. This is the only time the fire salamander enters the water.

Loebas