Subspecies of the eastern newt — eft phase is bright orange and toxic, terrestrial. Adult phase returns to water and turns olive-green. Among the most-studied North American salamanders for life history complexity.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The eastern newt is a common newt of eastern North America. It frequents small lakes, ponds, vernal ponds and streams or nearby wooded areas. The eastern newt produces tetrodotoxin, which makes the species unpalatable to predatory fish and crayfish. It has a lifespan of 12 to 15 years in the wild, and it may grow to 5 in (13 cm) in length. These animals are common aquarium pets, being either collected from the wild or sold commercially. The striking bright orange juvenile stage, which is land-dwelling, is known as a red eft. Some sources blend the general name of the species and that of the red-spotted newt subspecies into the eastern red-spotted newt.
Source: Wikipedia — Eastern newt Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Adults: olive-green with dark spots and red-orange spots on flanks. Red efts: brilliant orange-red with dark spots. Larvae: dark with feathery external gills.
Similar species. Other Notophthalmus species (similar but different ranges). Rough-skinned Newt (Pacific Northwest; different markings).
Voice. Silent.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Aquatic adults: insects, snails, leeches, small crustaceans, frog and toad eggs. Terrestrial efts: small invertebrates.
Behavior. Three-stage life cycle: aquatic larva → terrestrial "red eft" → aquatic adult. Red efts are bright orange-red terrestrial juveniles that wander forest floors for 2–7 years before returning to ponds as adults. Among the most toxic North American salamanders — skin contains tetrodotoxin (the same compound found in pufferfish). Predators learn to avoid the bright color; the warning system (aposematism) is so effective that many non-toxic salamanders mimic the eft color pattern.
§ Range
Eastern US
§ Habitat
Wet woodlands as juveniles ("efts"); ponds as adults
§ Threats
Forest fragmentation, road mortality, wetland loss, chytrid fungus.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the red-spotted newt is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Maintain forest-wetland connections. Drive slowly on rainy nights. Don't handle (toxin).
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Eastern newt
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens
- IUCN Red List · taxon 59453
- iNaturalist · taxon 27567
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens
§ Sources cited
- AmphibiaWeb
- USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
- Davidson College Herpetology Lab
- IUCN Red List 2014
