First venomous salamander

While there are many known poisonous newts (whose inherent toxins serve as an effective deterrent to predators), the Iberian ribbed newt (Pleurodeles waltl), aka gallipato, of the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco, is the first that can be described as venomous. Under threat, it's able to reorient its ribs so that they puncture its own body to form a line of bony barbs; combined with a milky poisonous secretion produced in its skin, these spikes are an effective way of delivering a toxic jab to any would-be attackers, a key distinction between poisonous and venomous animals.

German zoologist Franz von Leydig first noted this behaviour in 1879, however the anatomical workings of this defensive weapon were for a long time misunderstood, with naturalists under the impression that the spines sat within sheaves and protruded from pores along the sides of the newt's body. However a study published in 2010 in the Journal of Zoology (Heiss et al.) revealed that the salamander must re-puncture the ribs through its skin on each occasion, however remarkable healing skin (which all newts are known for) seems to result in a quick recovery.

Iberian ribbed newts are the largest European newt species, growing up to 30 cm (12 in) long.