Venom is one of the most fascinating characteristics that animals can have. This is very common among certain groups, especially amphibians and reptiles. Although most of the time they use it as a defense, there are some species that also use it as an attack to reduce or kill their prey.
One of the most popular amphibians is salamanders, so it is normal for many people to wonder if they are poisonous. If you are one of those who wonder if salamanders are poisonous In the following Green Ecologist article we will explain it to you, in addition, we will also tell you about other myths and legends about these fantastic animals.
Are salamanders poisonous?
Many amphibians are poisonous but, unlike other types of animals such as reptiles, this venom is not injected by stingers or bites, but is in the granular glands of the skin. Taking this into account the answer is yes, salamanders are poisonous, but it is necessary to specify more about what poison they have and what reaction it provokes.
Salamanders are poisonous but its poison is not dangerous, neither for humans nor for other animals. When the salamanders are threatened they take a defensive position arching their body and showing their colors. Likewise, through the skin they begin to release poisonous toxins. These toxins, in contact with the mucous membranes they cause irritationHowever, its objective is not to kill or poison its predator.
The main characteristic of salamander venom is that it has a very unpleasant taste, which causes a huge rejection. So when an animal puts a salamander in its mouth and notices the poison, it spits it out directly and will think more about it next time. On the other hand, they usually place the tail on their back so that it is the first thing the predator touches. As you may know, salamanders are one of the animals capable of regenerating parts of their body, that is why many times they prefer to sacrifice their tail for a while if that prevents that animal from wanting to eat a salamander again.
If you want to know which are the most poisonous animals in the world, we will explain it to you in the following article.
Are salamanders dangerous to humans?
We have already explained that the salamander is poisonous, now, what does poisonous mean? Is it dangerous for humans? The quick answer is no salamanders are not dangerous to humansAt least they are not deadly. As we have already explained previously, salamanders affect the mucous membranes, so in contact with the eyes, mouth or other sensitive areas of the body can cause inflammation and irritation.
It is possible that for some people more sensitive to salamander toxin, simply holding them with the hands already causes irritation in the dermis. However, the most common discomforts occur when a person, after touching a salamander, touches their eyes or puts them in their mouth. That is why after touching a salamander it is important to wash your hands to prevent any problems.
In the same way, it is important to be careful with children and explain well that salamanders should not be touched, not only because they can cause problems with the skin and mucous membranes, but also because animals have the right to live in peace without being disturbed by anyone.
Are salamanders poisonous to dogs?
Now that we have explained everything you need to know about salamanders and their venom, it is necessary to talk about our pets. Having read this article by Ecologist Verde, you will already know what to do if you touch a salamander, however, our dogs are not that lucky. That is why you must be careful when you walk it or when you are in the forest and try do not eat any. The reality is that it is unlikely that he will, as we have said, his poison has a very unpleasant taste that will make him spit it out immediately, however, it is possible that he will swallow it, which will provoke him irritation in the mouth and intestinal mucosa.
In that case, and whenever our dog is bitten by something or we have doubts about anything he has eaten, it is important to take him to the vet for an examination to prevent any risk.
Is the green salamander poisonous?
The green salamander, scientifically known as Aeneum aneids, is the only species of salamander that can be found on the east coast of the United States. At present it is a highly threatened speciesIn fact, their survival hangs in the balance due to the loss of their habitat and the arrival of other invasive species.
This salamander can measure between 8 and 12 centimeters and is of a bluish yellow color. However, its name comes from the green spots furrowing your skin and that allows them to camouflage themselves among the lichen. Unlike the European species, the salamander salamander we just talked about, the green salamander is not poisonous. Instead, they do move through the same environments, that is, shady and humid areas such as logs or crevices in caves and rocks.
Myths about salamanders
There are many myths and legends around salamanders. That they live in fire, that their poison can pollute entire rivers, that they can make you bald, that they are mythological beings … In fact, for more than a thousand years it has been taken for granted that salamanders lived in fire and that they did not burn.
The philosopher Aristotle was one of those who popularized the myth that they lived in fire, in fact, he said they could put it out. Although Pliny later made an experiment in which it was proved false, the myth persisted and still persists in many countries. But how is it that it is so popular? This is because salamanders live in humid and dark places, which is why they love to be in logs. When people wear those fire logs, if there were any salamander clueless, it will run away the moment it is light the flames. This fact is what led to the thought that they could live in fire.
On the other hand, the legend about the power of its poison is also very popular, something that we have already seen that is not true. Legend has it that more than four thousand soldiers and two thousand horses of the army of Alexander the Great they died of poisoning after drinking water from a river in which a salamander had been.
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