Eastern Red Spotted Newt

Scientific Classification

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

Adults are a shade of green with numerous red dots surrounded by black on the back. The belly is yellow with small black dots. The greenish larvae have a black stripe on each side of the head. Juveniles, called red efts, are bright red to orange with reddish spots encircled with black. [1]

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.

[8] Red-spotted Newt. Red-Spotted Newt. (n.d.). Retrieved May 11, 2022, from https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/information/red-spotted-newt/?msclkid=fc5748ddd15b11ec9a64ff92396799f1