Siberian Salamander

The Siberian salamander is a small, stout newt-like amphibian with smooth brown, bronze or grey skin and a broad darker stripe along the back. A lighter golden or silvery line may edge the dark area, and the tail is laterally compressed for swimming. It has four toes on each hind foot, a useful distinction from most other salamanders. Colour is subdued and individuals are most easily found during breeding movements. (Wikipedia, Siberian salamander account)

This cold-adapted amphibian inhabits boreal forest, floodplains, marshes and shallow pools across northern Asia. Adults spend much of the year hidden beneath logs, moss or soil and feed on small invertebrates. Soon after thaw, they enter still or slow water, where females attach paired egg sacs to submerged vegetation. The species is famous for surviving freezing during winter dormancy. The opened account did not document a named Mongolian site, so no viewing locality is suggested. (Wikipedia, Siberian salamander account)