Sunny weather in Bieszczady delays fire salamander mating
PAP © 2012 / Maciej Kulczyński
Sunny weather and lack of rain delays the start of the mating season of fire salamander in Bieszczady and Low Beskids. Increased activity of these amphibians could usually be observed in mid-September.
"This year is different, and the reason is the lack of moisture in the woods. Salamander does not like to move through dry leaves in the sunny weather" - said Edward Marszałek, spokesman of the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Krosno.
Fire salamander is the only amphibian in Poland with breeding period in mid-September. Their increased activity in this period means that they can be then found in moist deciduous forests, mainly beech, in Bieszczady and Low Beskids.
"In the past it was believed that salamanders are not born like other amphibians, but come out of the flames. For example, in Dukielszczyzna in the Beskid people warned against burning fires in the woods because salamander could come out of the fire" - reminded Marszałek.
Spotted salamanders are the largest caudate amphibians in Poland. Their length reaches 25 cm. They feed on earthworms, snails, caterpillars. For the first three months they live in water. Later, metamorphosed, they come on land. They reach sexual maturity after 3-4 years. In the wild they live for up to 10 years.
In Poland, they are found mainly in the Carpathians and the Sudetes; they are a protected species.
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