The Salamander

The salamander is an amphibian (not a reptile as is a lizard) and the fire salamander is probably the best-known of the species. Its traits relating to fire gave credence to it as a legendary creature.

Salamanders live in forests and like to hibernate in rotting logs, in fallen leaves and in holes around tree trunks. When the wood was put on the fire or the tree trunks/stumps burnt, the salamanders hiding in them were forced out by the heat, giving rise to the legend that they were born in the flame.