Eastern Red Spotted Newt: Difference between revisions
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==Description== | ==Description== | ||
The newt starts off as an egg. Each egg is attached to aquatic vegetation (Raritan) and a female newt can lay between 200-375 eggs per clutch. Each egg is 1.5mm in diameter [5]. After 5 weeks the larvae hatch in the water and stay there for about 3 months [1]. The larvae are olive-brown green with feathered gills. They will grow to about 7.5mm until they become efts [5]. To become efts, the larvae shed their feathered gills and adapt to life on land [1]. Efts live on the land for 3-4 years [1]. They have dry, rough skin that comes in red or bright orange colors [7]. The bright color of their skin indicates that they secrete a poisonous toxin [1]. Also indicative of their toxic secretion are the small spots placed in rows along the sides of their backs. These spots are red with black around them. They have developed this toxic secretion in order to coexist with potential predators [7]. The larger spots can be mistaken for eyes which is how their scientific name. “Notophthalmus” was given [2]. The Eft also has a round tail. In some cases, depending on the environment, the larvae can directly metamorphose into its aquatic adult form without becoming an eft [5]. Once they have become adults, the newts turn an olive green color once again, keeping the rows on red and black spots along their back, but adding black spots around the rest of their backs [2]. The male newts develop rough black patches during mating season inside their thighs and the bottom tip of their back toes [2]. As newts, they return back to the water, often being labeled as an aquatic adult. The tail of the newt is more flat than an eft and they can grow between 2.5 inches and 5.5 inches long [1]. | |||
==Habitat and Range== | ==Habitat and Range== | ||
==Life Cycle== | ==Life Cycle== | ||
==Diet== | ==Diet== | ||
==Behavior & Reproduction== | ==Behavior & Reproduction== | ||
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[7] Species Profile: Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) | SREL Herpetology. (n.d.). . https://srelherp.uga.edu/salamanders/notvir.htm. | [7] Species Profile: Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) | SREL Herpetology. (n.d.). . https://srelherp.uga.edu/salamanders/notvir.htm. | ||
Revision as of 15:31, 11 May 2022
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Salamandridae |
| Genus: | Notophthalmus |
| Species: | N. viridescens |
| Source: Integrated Taxonomic Information System | |
Eastern Red Spotted Newt (WIP)
The Eastern Red Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) is a salamander native to Eastern North America [2]. It is a common amphibian [1], which means it is cold-blooded [2] and can be found in wet forests, small lakes, streams and ponds [6]. They frequently switch between aquatic and terrestrial habitats throughout their lives. They have 4 distinct life cycles which they are able to switch between based on their environment. The stages are 1) egg, 2) aquatic larva, 3) eft (terrestrial adult) and 4) newt (aquatic adult) [2].
Description
The newt starts off as an egg. Each egg is attached to aquatic vegetation (Raritan) and a female newt can lay between 200-375 eggs per clutch. Each egg is 1.5mm in diameter [5]. After 5 weeks the larvae hatch in the water and stay there for about 3 months [1]. The larvae are olive-brown green with feathered gills. They will grow to about 7.5mm until they become efts [5]. To become efts, the larvae shed their feathered gills and adapt to life on land [1]. Efts live on the land for 3-4 years [1]. They have dry, rough skin that comes in red or bright orange colors [7]. The bright color of their skin indicates that they secrete a poisonous toxin [1]. Also indicative of their toxic secretion are the small spots placed in rows along the sides of their backs. These spots are red with black around them. They have developed this toxic secretion in order to coexist with potential predators [7]. The larger spots can be mistaken for eyes which is how their scientific name. “Notophthalmus” was given [2]. The Eft also has a round tail. In some cases, depending on the environment, the larvae can directly metamorphose into its aquatic adult form without becoming an eft [5]. Once they have become adults, the newts turn an olive green color once again, keeping the rows on red and black spots along their back, but adding black spots around the rest of their backs [2]. The male newts develop rough black patches during mating season inside their thighs and the bottom tip of their back toes [2]. As newts, they return back to the water, often being labeled as an aquatic adult. The tail of the newt is more flat than an eft and they can grow between 2.5 inches and 5.5 inches long [1].
Habitat and Range
Life Cycle
Diet
Behavior & Reproduction
References
[1] Creature Feature: Eastern Red-Spotted Newt - Raritan Headwaters. (n.d.). . https://www.raritanheadwaters.org/2020/03/20/creature-feature-eastern-red-spotted-newt/.
[2] Eastern (Red-Spotted) Newt - Watchable Wildlife - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation. (n.d.). . https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/67022.html.
[3] ITIS - Report: Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens. (n.d.). . https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=173616.
[4] Maryland Biodiversity Project - Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens). (n.d.). . https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/view/470.
[5] Red-spotted Newt. (n.d.). . https://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/amphibians/salamanders/red-spotted-newt/red-spotted_newt.php.
[6] Red-Spotted Newt. (n.d.). . https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Fact-Sheets/Red-Spotted-Newt.
[7] Species Profile: Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) | SREL Herpetology. (n.d.). . https://srelherp.uga.edu/salamanders/notvir.htm.