AnimalsCroatia
Fire salamander Fun facts for kids
Salamandra salamandra
The fire salamander lives in damp forests near streams in Europe and eats slugs, earthworms and insects.
- Where it lives
- in damp forests near streams in Europe
- What it eats
- slugs, earthworms and insects
- How big it is
- about as big as a grown-up's hand
Fun facts about the fire salamander
The ones Sammy likes best. She tells them in the game, too.
If it loses its tail or a leg, it can grow a new one, and even fix parts of its eye!
Long ago, people thought it was born in fire, because they saw it crawl out of logs on the fire.
It can squirt a milky poison from behind its eyes to keep hungry animals away.
No two have the same spots, so scientists tell them apart by taking photos of their backs.
It breathes partly through its wet skin, so it must stay damp all the time.
One lived for more than 50 years, which is longer than most grown ups have been alive!
Babies grow up swimming in water, but grown ups are clumsy swimmers and can even drown.
Instead of laying eggs like a frog, the mum has babies that can already swim.
Riddle
Can a friend guess it?
Read the clues to someone, one at a time, without saying the animal. How many clues do they need? Fewer is better, just like in the game.
I live in damp forests in Europe near cool streams, and I come out on rainy nights.
I breathe partly through my wet skin, so I must always stay damp.
If I lose my tail or a leg, I can slowly grow a new one.
I can squirt a milky poison from behind my eyes to keep hungry animals away.
I'm shiny black with bright yellow spots, and long ago people thought I was born in flames.
Sammy might be thinking of a fire salamander.
In Thought Zoo, Sammy picks an animal and you ask her yes-or-no questions to find it. You'll find the fire salamander in the Croatia adventure.
Play the CroatiaComing to iPad, iPhone and Android on 12 January 2027
