"Brilliant-colored lizards or small Dragons that can live in flames and molten lava, and so cold that they are able to extinguish fires. Fireproof asbestos fibers were said to be "salamander wool." Paracelsus (1493-1541) gave their name to Fire Elementals.

These myths are based on the European Fire Salamander, which hibernates in dead wood, often ending up in the fire place as it crawls out of the logs, awakened by the heat. When frightened, it exudes a harmless milky fluid that can actually extinguish weak flames.

The Salamandra sometimes appears as a symbol for fire insurance. It is also said to be poisonous, and it is true that many newts secrete potent tetrodotoxins through their skin as a defense against predators."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007