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This is what's written in Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You about Salamanders.

Salamanders (Family: Flammieuntidae)[]

The salamander is a tiny, deceptively agreeable creature resembling its amphibious namesake. It can withstand extreme heat, and when threatened, the salamander will ignite, creating a white-hot flame around its body. Regardless, its skin is cool no matter how hot the temperature around it.

FireSalamander

A Fire Salamander (Salamander flammulaticus).

The flaming salamander can be found in damp places or in woodpiles, although it has also been spotted near volcanoes. It gives off the odor of sulphur and is believed to secret poison so terrible that it burns whatever it touches.

Salamanders are sought by alchemists because they are an integral component for turning lead into gold. They are also sought for their pelts, since the skins can be used to make flame-retardant gloves. Although swift, a salamander can be caught with tongs and kept in an iron box.

Known species[]

  • Fire Salamander (Salamander flammulaticus)

Additional facts[]

The secret behind the Salamander's igniting ability is small glands under the dorsal plates. When the plates raise, the glands will produce a gas which ignites when it comes in contact with the surrounding oxygen.

Salamander excrements will burst into flames when struck, stepped on, or hurled.

Arthur believed that Salamanders could maybe be the juveniles of Dragons, but the Grace children discovered that Dragon offspring is larger and less colorful than Fire Salamanders.

If a finger touches the back of a Salamander, it will set the finger on fire.

When you bring a bundle of firewood in to your house, an unknowing Salamander may be hiding under the wood. If threatened of the fact that it's home is being disturbed, it can ignite the whole fireplace in an instant. It can be seen "swimming among the white-hot flames until it vanishes up the chimney".

Alchemical recipe for turning lead into gold: Melt together pure mercury and gold in the intensive heat of a salamander.

The substance will first blacken, then it will turn white, then it will yield a fine powder, which when commingled with lead, will change into gold.


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