Fire Salamander Female in Forest

I found this large female Fire Salamander in late September. She was probably plump with eggs in preparation for the upcoming breeding period in October. After mating, females can hold viable sperm for a year, which they use to fertilize eggs internally. The eggs develop and hatch within her, after which she lays fully developed larvae in fishless streams. Mating usually takes place in fall, then larvae are laid in spring, but either event can take place during any season besides mid winter.