EASTERN NEWTMaggie Panetta

Classification

Common Name: Eastern Newt or Red-Spotted Newt

Scientific Name: notophthalimus viridescens

Kingdom Name: Animalia

Phylum Name: Chordata

Class Name: Amphibia

Order: Caudate

Family: Salamandridae

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

Eastern Newt Characteristics

Chordata: defined as organisms that possess a structure called a notochord, at least during some part of their development.

Amphibians evolved from lobe-finned fish.

Amphibians are tied to the water

Amphibians have small inefficient lungs and most species also use their skin for respiration. Because the skin is used in gas exchange, it must remain moist, so amphibians can not venture far into very dry habitats.

Symmetry: Bilateral

Body Cavity: Coelomate

Type of Organism Free living Carnivore Semi-Aquatic

Segmentation: does show head, thorax, abdomen.

Life Cycle/Reprod

uction

Specifics:A newt is a small to medium sized

salamander. The newt has two rows of reddish colored spots with black circles down its back. 3 stages of life: larva, eft, and adult. Larva: they are small and develop in the water. They start out with faint spots and gills and large tail fins. As these newts grow they lose their gills and their fins dissapear. Eft: during this stage the newt is highly viiable to animals. After several years they will reach maturity and return to the water to breed with other adults. They are brightly colored red efts. Adult: the newt is usually dull brown and have flattened tail from swimming. During breeding season the tail fin in a male will get very broad to show mating status.

•Average Life Span: 12-15 years

•Offspring: 200-400 jelly covered eggs from late winter to early spring

•Reproduces sexually

•Adults are usually 6-11cm, efts are 3.8-9cm

Habitat Description

Where does the eastern newt live?Woodland ponds or meadows with dense aquatic vegetation for adult newts, temporary ponds of shallows of larger lakes and streams.

What is its niche typically like?Adults feed on many different small aquatic, insect larvae, and

mollusks. Many times they will consume the eggs or larvae of other amphibians.

Fact: cannibalism of their own larvae has been reported to occur.

Special Characteristics

Interesting Physical Characteristics All of the life stages of the newt have a toxic skin secretion that will protect them

from their preditors of many types. This poison is produced in very toxic and noxious secretions.

(High concentration of tetradotoxin, a neurotoxin and strong emetic) The eastern newt’s coloration plays a role in warning potential enemies of their

toxicity

Interesting Behavior When attacked by a predator (birds and mammals) the newt will flex it’s mid-trunk

so that the head and tail are raised and curled toward one another over the back. This position is call the Unken Reflex; it exposes the bright coloring . this position is exhibited in several other semi-aquatic species.

Conservation Overall the species is unthreatened. Depends of the preservation of aquatic and

surrounding habitats. The key to keeping the newts safe is the preservation of its habitat. Let us not let the newts go on the endangered species list.

Fun Facts!The Red-Spotted Newt

(Eastern Newt) is the state animal of New Hampshire

Eastern newts make great pets, and are usually

housed in an aquarium. (see right)

To see a very friendly, peaceful newt see the

below video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdj4fYEgVJY

 

To do

your own

researchcheck

outthesesites!

(works cited)

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/eastern_newt.htm

http://www.theanimalfiles.com/amphibians/newts_salamanders/eastern_newt.html

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12201-60848--,00.html

http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Notophthalmus/N_viridescens.shtml

http://www.grizzlyrun.com/pets/amphibians/newts/red_spotted_newt/default.htm

T H E E N D