Almost all amphibians lay eggs, but there is one species that gives birth to live young. The Salamandra salamandra, fire salamander, typically gives birth to 10 to 30 young at a time. One of the best-known species of salamanders in Europe, the fire salamander typically is black with either yellow stripes or yellow spots on the back.
More facts about amphibians:
- Amphibians are considered the first vertebrates to have thrived on land and are believed to have been on Earth for hundreds of millions of years. Many scientists believe that amphibians lived as many as 370 million years ago.
- There are more than 5,000 species of amphibians. These are classed into three basic groups: frogs and toads; caecilians, such as snakes; and newts and salamanders.
- The largest known amphibian is the Chinese giant salamander, which can grow to a length of 6 feet (1.83 m). The Chinese giant salamander and the Goliath frog are considered examples of the largest amphibians.
