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Salamander (orig. from Persian: sām, "fire", and andarūn, "within") is the common name for a group of approximately 500 species of amphibians typically characterized by slender bodies, short legs, and long tails. Their moist skin usually makes them reliant on habitats in or near water or under some protection on moist ground, often in a swamp. Some salamander species are aquatic throughout life, some take to the water intermittently, and some are entirely terrestrial as adults. They lay shelless eggs in water. They are capable of regenerating lost limbs in a process known as ecdysis. Respiration differs among the different species of salamanders. In those that retain lungs respiration is done through the gills as water passes over the gill slits. Some salamanders that are terrestrial have lungs that are used in respiration similar to that in mammals. However, some terrestrial species lack both lungs and gills and perform gas exchange through their skin, a process known as valarian respiration in which the capillary beds are spread throughout the epidermis. Hunting is yet another unique aspect of salamanders. Muscles surrounding the hyoid bone contract to create pressure and actually "shoot" the hyoid bone out of the mouth along with the tongue. The tip of the tongue is composed mucous which creates a sticky end to which the prey is captured. Muscles in the pelvic region are used in order to reel the tongue and the hyoid back to its original position. Salamanders split off from the other amphibians during the Mesozoic, and initially were similar to modern members of the Cryptobranchoidea. Any resemblance to lizards is the result of convergence of the basic tetrapod body plan, as they are no more closely related to lizards than they are to mammals. Their nearest relatives are the caecilians, little known legless amphibians.
Habitat
Species of salamanders are numerous and found in most moist or arid habitats in the northern hemisphere. Most are small, but some reach up to 5 inches (130 mm) in length. They live in brooks,creeks,ponds and other moist locations such as under rocks. North America has the hellbender and the mudpuppy which can reach the length of a foot (30 cm) or more. In Japan and China the giant salamander is found, which reaches 6 feet (1.8 m) and weighs up to 30 kilograms.[1][2]
Classification
There are ten families belonging to the order Urodela, divided into three suborders:
Mythology
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Numerous legends have developed around the salamander over the centuries, many related to fire. This connection likely originates from the tendency of many salamanders to dwell inside rotting logs. When placed into a fire, the salamander would attempt to escape from the log, lending to the belief that the salamander was created from flames. Associations of the salamander with fire appear in the Talmud and the Hadith, as well as in the writings of Conrad Lycosthenes, Benvenuto Cellini, Ray Bradbury, David Weber, Paracelsus and Leonardo da Vinci.
Popular culture
- Literature
- In Cyrano de Bergerac's "Estates and Empires of the Sun and Moon" he depicts a battle between the salamander as fire-creature and the remora as ice-creature, culminating in the triumph of the remora.
- In Karel Čapek´s science fiction novel War with the Newts, also called War with the Salamanders, the species Andrias scheuchzeri takes the main role.
- In the Discworld novel The Truth, salamanders are used as a source of light similar to a flash-bulb for iconography.
- Salamanders are occasionally mentioned in the Harry Potter book series.
- In Ray Bradbury's 1953 novel Fahrenheit 451, the salamander is used symbolically to represent the fireman's ability to burn literature yet 'regenerate' happiness to the people in the totalitarian society.
- Harry Turtledove's novel The Case of the Toxic Spell Dump supplants many common objects and machines with magical contrivances. Salamanders are used in lieu of water heaters, and so-called "megasalamanders" are Turtledove's magical equivalent of nuclear weapons.
- Salamanders are also known as minor snake demons according to lore.
- In David Weber's Honorverse series of novels, the main character, Honor Harrington, is often referred to as "The Salamander" as she is always to be found where the action is the hottest.
- Gaming
- Salamander is a Konami shooting game.
- In the online game AdventureQuest The player can fight the fire creatures Young Salamanders and Salamanders.
- In Earthworm Jim 2, there is a stage where Jim transforms from an earthworm to a blind cave salamander.
- In Dungeon Keeper 2, salamanders are one of the earliest unit types available to the player.
- In the Kingdom of Loathing, players can cast a spell during combat which turns the enemy into either a salamander, newt, or frog.
- In Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, the Salamander is a DSS (Dual Set-up System) card, which enables the character to use fire magics.
- In the MMORPG RuneScape, players can obtain salamanders and use them as a flamethrower-like weapon.
- In Arthur: The Quest for Excalibur, the protagonist Arthur is able to turn into a salamander using magic. In the game the salamander possesses resistance to fire.
- In Warhammer 40k, Salamanders, a chapter of Space Marines, favor heat- and fire-based weapons.
- In Nethack, salamanders grab onto their victims and set them on fire.
- In Final Fantasy Tactics, the Salamander is a spell that can be performed by the summonner class.
- Animation
- In the anime Legendz, Salamander is an anthropomorphic fire lizard who is relegated a role as a minor character.
- In the Pokémon franchise, Wooper and its evolved form, Quagsire are salamanders; Mudkip and its evolutions fill the same role. Salamence is also a Salamander pokemon, hence the name; Charmander is a salamander-like Pokémon with characteristics of the mythical salamander.
- In Naruto, the character Kankuro has a defensive puppet called Sanshouo, which means Salamander in Japanese. The puppet also has a strong resemblance to its namesake. Another character is known as "Salamander" Hanzo, and can summon giant salamanders to use in battle.
- In the anime Fullmetal Alchemist, the character Roy Mustang is able to control fire by means of a special glove made out of ignition cloth. The glove features a red transmutation circle with a salamander.
- Cytomander, a character from the Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann anime series, has his name formed from the combination of Salamander and the chemical component Cytosine.
- In the anime Yu-Gi-Oh! there is a card named Salamandra alluding to the mythological Salamander.
- During a Simpsons episode Homer becomes the safety Salamander.
- Dance
- The Salamander Homp was a dance craze in the early 80's that filled the void between disco and break dancing.
Notes
- ^ Digitally tagging and releasing.
- ^ International Giant Salamander Protection Site.
References
External references
bg:Опашати земноводни da:Halepadder de:Schwanzlurche el:Σαλαμάνδρα es:Salamandra eo:Salamandro fa:سمندر fr:Urodèle ko:도롱뇽목 it:Urodela he:בעלי זנב la:Salamandra lt:Uodeguotieji varliagyviai hu:Farkos kétéltűek ms:Urodela nl:Salamanders ja:有尾目 no:Salamandere oc:Urodela pl:Płazy ogoniaste pt:Caudados ru:Хвостатые земноводные simple:Salamander sl:Repati krkoni fi:Salamanterit sv:Stjärtgroddjur tr:Semender uk:Саламандра wa:Ecawêyès glumiantès biesses
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