Red-spotted Newt

Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens (Rafinesque)

Newts live in grassy or weedy ponds. Adults are olive green with a yellow belly. Along the back are small red spots with black borders. Breeding males develop a high wavy crest on their tails. Newts eat mostly the immature stages of pond insects, particularly midges.

Eft in the hand

Smile

Newts lay eggs singly on the leaves and stems of pond plants. By August or September the aquatic larvae change into a juvenile stage called a red eft. This elegant little creature is bright red or red-orange, with two rows of black-bordered red spots. The red efts then migrate to lakeshore and woodland habitats to mature. You may see them crossing wet highways at night in August and September. Though seldom seen in daytime, efts are active in the forest litter on rainy nights. After about two years living in damp woods, they return to the ponds as adult newts for the rest of their lives.

Typical newt colours

Newts are easier to hold than other salamanders because their skin is rougher and less moist. They seem to get along well with aquarium fish.

Eft belly

Portrait of a Red Eft