1A lizard-like amphibian with an elongated body and tail and short limbs, once thought able to endure fire.
Order Urodela: four families, in particular Salamandridae, and numerous species
‘By one count, 1 in 3 of the 5,743 known species of frog, toad, salamander, and other amphibians are dwindling.’
‘The study finds 122 species of frogs, toads, salamanders and legless amphibians have probably become extinct since 1980 and warns that a third of all amphibian species currently face the same fate.’
‘Viable woodlands are just as critical as clean waters for frogs, toads, turtles, salamanders, newts, and many species of reptiles.’
‘Direct development and viviparity have evolved in all three groups of Lissamphibia: frogs, salamanders and caecilians.’
‘Around 5,000 amphibian species, including frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders are thought to exist today.’
‘Amphibians such as frogs, toads, and salamanders are undergoing rapid population declines, most likely due to fungal disease, climate change, habitat loss, and pollution.’
‘Scientists like Shubin, Gao, and Carroll say they are attracted to the study of salamanders because the amphibians give them a window to see how evolutionary mechanisms work.’
‘Interestingly, while some amphibians like newts and salamanders are very effective at regenerating limbs, they are not as effective at regenerating tissue to repair damaged internal organs.’
‘Their steep slopes are the nearest thing to a rainforest in Europe, overflowing with springs and pools which are home to salamanders and newts.’
‘The familiar frogs, toads, and salamanders have been present since at least the Jurassic Period.’
‘To avoid predators, some animals - like some snakes, salamanders or frogs - restrict their movements under a full moon and tend to hunt more on moonless nights.’
‘As frogs, toads, salamanders, and snakes emerge from hibernation, encourage them to stay around your garden and help control pests.’
‘These salamanders undergo a typical amphibian life cycle, wherein they hatch from the egg in an aquatic-larval form and eventually undergo a metamorphosis through which they achieve a terrestrial adult form.’
‘Since salamanders are amphibians, their skins are sensitive to being dried out; therefore they are found in or near water and damp places.’
‘The ‘true salamanders’ tend to be smooth skinned, while the newts are unlike all other salamanders in having rough skin that is not slimy.’
‘Gardener snakes, grass snakes, ground beetles, box turtles, salamanders, ducks, and larvae of lightning bugs all feed on snails.’
‘Both salamanders and Hamilton's frogs care for eggs and young.’
‘A number of salamanders, such as the North American ‘mudpuppy’ and the Mexican axolotl, develop legs but retain their larval gills and stay in the water throughout their lifetimes.’
‘Like the majority of frogs and toads, many salamanders undergo an obligate metamorphosis that allows for the exploitation of both aquatic and terrestrial habitats during ontogeny.’
‘While salamanders with ballistic tongue projection rarely miss their target, frogs that use ballistic projection can be highly inaccurate.’
2A mythical lizard-like creature said to live in fire or to be able to withstand its effects.
2.1An elemental spirit living in fire.
3A metal plate heated and placed over food to brown it.
‘Remove from oven and place under salamander until golden brown.’
‘Place gratineed stacks under a salamander or broiler until top is browned.’
‘Remove pork from cooking liquid, cut into cubes and heat under salamander or broiler until sizzling.’
‘If you don't own a 1.75m tall machine from Catalonia but have a large enough salamander you can mimic, but not match, this method by grilling entire joints: legs of lamb, ribs of beef, suckling pigs, etc.’
4archaic A red-hot iron or poker.
Origin
Middle English (in salamander (sense 2)): from Old French salamandre, via Latin from Greek salamandra. Sense 1 dates from the early 17th century.
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