What are these then?

[steve_earwig]

Seeing as how it's been very quiet today (apart from stuff I know nothing about )

I spotted these today in the hole where my mate's water meter lives:

(That's me that is)




Which my mate insisted on rescuing and then handling (despite knowing they're poisonous). I've never seen any before but I knew what they were.

I only looked in there to see what the water table was up to (he has a well too) - cool huh?

So, what do you reckon?

Btw the frog also got rescued.

[puggy]

Dont know but they are cute and you reckon they are poisonous ??

[trem1]

First.your brave Steve dont think i'd have picked that up
secondly this is my best guess

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_Salamander

but its not the right part of the world is it ??

[D9406]

I'd guess they are European Fire Salamanders.

If I'm right I wouldnt fancy handling one, if handled roughly they can squirt a noxious milky fluid up to a foot away which can cause skin rashes.

Although I may be wrong.

[steve_earwig]

Yay!! I reckon salamander is close enough, I didn't know the exact species until I got told - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_salamander

I certainly didn't pick them up My mate did that, but he's a bit like that really, his lounge features a human skull The other day I was fixing his pc and I noticed a lump of hair hanging down of a shelf and I was considering the possibility of a shrunken head being the other end of it, turns out it was his ponytail from many years ago. He was really chuffed to see them anyway as he hadn't seen any in his garden for quite a while. I've got a picture of him somewhere, hold on...


Yes, they were very cute, but the colouration really does say "mess with me pal and I'll ruin your day"

[scotty73]

They look much better in those pics than they do in the wiki links
I'm sure I've seen them on tv called a geko of some sort, not sure if a salamander is the same thing?

[Welly]

if handled roughly they can squirt a noxious milky fluid up to a foot away which can cause skin rashes

Are we still talking about Puggy or that slimy water creature?

[steve_earwig]

They look much better in those pics than they do in the wiki links

Really? They're from my (crappy) mobile phone camera. My mate took some too on his proper digital, I'll see if I can nab some off of him.

I'm sure I've seen them on tv called a geko of some sort, not sure if a salamander is the same thing?

Geckos are lizards, these are amphibians

And are there any more unusual animals for me to look out for here? Why yes, there's the occasional scorpion and black widow spider They're mainly on the coast though (phew) There are also a few varieties snake, including some poisonous ones...

[Doggy]

if handled roughly they can squirt a noxious milky fluid up to a foot away which can cause skin rashes

Are we still talking about Puggy or that slimy water creature?

Now that's hardly fair, Welton!

(the bit about rough handling is pure propaganda)

[Ares]

they are poisonous,but not much,anyway,you get your skin or eyes iritated by their poison.
Village i live in have quite a populaation of this creatures
He is also protected by law hahah.