The
salamander is an
amphibian of the order
Urodela which, as with many real creatures, often has been ascribed fantastic and sometimes
occult qualities by pre-modern authors (as in the allegorical descriptions of animals in
medieval bestiaries) not possessed by the real organism. The legendary salamander is often depicted as a typical salamander in shape, with a
lizard-like form, but is usually ascribed an affinity with
fire, sometimes specifically
elemental fire.