Salamander (Books)

Salamanders, specifically Newts are mentioned in the How to Train Your Dragon Book series.

Description
Salamanders are an amphibian of the Order Urodela. They have a long body and a long tail, as well as four legs positioned at the sides of the body. Salamanders occur in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and to a small extent, in Northern Africa. Like other amphibians, salamanders have a complex lifecycle. They start as eggs laid in moist environments, and hatch into legless tadpoles. Then the tadpole begins developing legs and most species loose their gills. Finally they metamorphose into the adult form.

Newts are a type of salamander comprising the Subfamily Pleurodelinae. Newts are semi-aquatic, and rely on water sources into which to deposit eggs and develop larvae. Some species of newts are toxic and can potentially make a human very ill or be fatal if ingested.

Function
Newts are mentioned in the Book series mainly as a derogatory word to call a dragon.

In reality, salamanders may be kept as pets.

How to Train Your Dragon
Toothless is called a "newt" at various times in this Book as a derogatory term from his adversaries.

"That's not a dragon, that's a newt with wings."

- Seaslug