 The Japanese giant salamander has been the subject of legend and artwork in Japan , in the ukiyo @-@ e work by Utagawa Kuniyoshi . The well @-@ known Japanese mythological creature known as the kappa may be inspired by this salamander . A newt plays a key role in Roald Dahl 's children 's book Matilda when , in the chapter ' The First Miracle ' , the eponymous heroine Matilda Wormwood slips a newt into the headmistress Miss Trunchbull 's water , and tips it over by telekinesis . 
