As the rain began, the common salamander arrived this morning (Monday) to visit the Banias Reserve.
It was even documented by the director of the Ofer Reserve, a boy from the Nature and Parks Authority.
The color of the salamander is black, and spots of yellow or orange are scattered on its back, head and tail, in a different arrangement for each individual.
Using the spots each salamander can be identified individually.
Salamander is found in the Banias Reserve, Photo: Ofer Shinar, Nature and Parks Authority
Distressed salamander secretes from its glands a toxin called salamander.
It is active in winter on rainy nights and spawns tadpoles from the previous year's fertilization.
After the female spawns in the water, fertilization is performed by the male in a kind of joint courtship dance.
The tadpole grows and develops for 3-1 months, depending on environmental conditions.
The salamander reaches adulthood at the age of four to six years, and maintains allegiance to the habitat in which it was born.
The world estimates that about a third of the amphibian species are endangered.
In Israel, the salamander is an endangered species, as are Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Iran.
Among the causes of its extinction can be found the destruction of its habitats, fragmentation of areas and isolation of populations, diseases, climate change, invasive species and trampling by vehicles.
Salamander is found in the Banias Reserve, Photo: Ofer Shinar, Nature and Parks Authority
The populations of the salamander found in Israel are at the end of the southern distribution limit of the species in Carmel, an area that constitutes the hottest and driest environment relative to the other areas where the species is common.
The Nature and Parks Authority is leading a number of actions to preserve salamanders in particular and amphibian species in general, including protecting aquatic habitats and initiating new ones, initiating amphibian crossings in relevant road areas to reduce trampling, establishing "salamanders" (natural or artificial facility) to prevent salamanders from drowning in pits Water and wineries, conservation of ecological corridors, monitoring and research as well as educational activities and information on the importance of aquatic habitats and amphibian species.
Salamander is found in the Banias Reserve, Photo: Ofer Shinar, Nature and Parks Authority