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Eastern Newt (Adult) with Leech - Notophthalmus viridescens This was awful!<br /> <br /> I was sitting next to a cluster of flowers hoping to see some pollinators when I noticed this salamander posing on a rock, just out of the water. After a couple minutes, I realized something was wrong, so I got closer. Its skin was so dry that it was shiny and felt like wax paper. I wasn&#039;t sure it was alive until I saw something (which I thought was its leg) start to move near the nape of its neck. Looking even closer, I saw that the moving object was a leech! It was feasting on the salamander. I decided to pull the leech off, but dropped the salamander by accident into the water and was shocked when it recovered and swam off...leech still attached.<br /> <br /> I wonder if the salamander&#039;s odd behavior was because of the leech. It must have been perched on that rock or awhile in order to dry out so much. Hopefully it can scrape the leech off somehow.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Woodland pond<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/113598/eastern_newt_adult_-_notophthalmus_viridescens.html" title="Eastern Newt (Adult) - Notophthalmus viridescens"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/113598_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=RwzHlUnkFfGtEv8swFFlotsSf8s%3D" width="200" height="142" alt="Eastern Newt (Adult) - Notophthalmus viridescens This was awful! <br /> <br /> I was sitting next to a cluster of flowers hoping to see some pollinators when I noticed this salamander posing on a rock, just out of the water. After a couple minutes, I realized something was wrong, so I got closer. Its skin was so dry that it was shiny and felt like wax paper. I wasn&#039;t sure it was alive until I saw something (which I thought was its leg) start to move near the nape of its neck. Looking even closer, I saw that the moving object was a leech! It was feasting on the salamander. I decided to pull the leech off, but dropped the salamander by accident into the water and was shocked when it recovered and swam off...leech still attached.<br /> <br /> I wonder if the salamander&#039;s odd behavior was because of the leech. It must have been perched on that rock or awhile in order to dry out so much. Hopefully it can scrape the leech off somehow. <br /> <br /> Habitat: Woodland pond<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/113597/eastern_newt_adult_-_notophthalmus_viridescens.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/113596/eastern_newt_adult_with_leech_-_notophthalmus_viridescens.html Eastern newt,Geotagged,Notophthalmus,Notophthalmus viridescens,Spring,United States,newt,salamander" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/113597/eastern_newt_adult_-_notophthalmus_viridescens.html" title="Eastern Newt (Adult) - Notophthalmus viridescens"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/113597_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=DoAIdA1gJqd3iUia2%2FYeLmg%2BUw8%3D" width="200" height="142" alt="Eastern Newt (Adult) - Notophthalmus viridescens This was awful!<br /> <br /> I was sitting next to a cluster of flowers hoping to see some pollinators when I noticed this salamander posing on a rock, just out of the water. After a couple minutes, I realized something was wrong, so I got closer. Its skin was so dry that it was shiny and felt like wax paper. I wasn&#039;t sure it was alive until I saw something (which I thought was its leg) start to move near the nape of its neck. Looking even closer, I saw that the moving object was a leech! It was feasting on the salamander. I decided to pull the leech off, but dropped the salamander by accident into the water and was shocked when it recovered and swam off...leech still attached.<br /> <br /> I wonder if the salamander&#039;s odd behavior was because of the leech. It must have been perched on that rock or awhile in order to dry out so much. Hopefully it can scrape the leech off somehow.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Woodland pond<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/113598/eastern_newt_adult_-_notophthalmus_viridescens.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/113596/eastern_newt_adult_with_leech_-_notophthalmus_viridescens.html Eastern newt,Geotagged,Notophthalmus viridescens,Spring,United States" /></a></figure> Eastern newt,Geotagged,Notophthalmus viridescens,Spring,United States Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Eastern Newt (Adult) with Leech - Notophthalmus viridescens

This was awful!

I was sitting next to a cluster of flowers hoping to see some pollinators when I noticed this salamander posing on a rock, just out of the water. After a couple minutes, I realized something was wrong, so I got closer. Its skin was so dry that it was shiny and felt like wax paper. I wasn't sure it was alive until I saw something (which I thought was its leg) start to move near the nape of its neck. Looking even closer, I saw that the moving object was a leech! It was feasting on the salamander. I decided to pull the leech off, but dropped the salamander by accident into the water and was shocked when it recovered and swam off...leech still attached.

I wonder if the salamander's odd behavior was because of the leech. It must have been perched on that rock or awhile in order to dry out so much. Hopefully it can scrape the leech off somehow.

Habitat: Woodland pond

Eastern Newt (Adult) - Notophthalmus viridescens This was awful! <br /> <br /> I was sitting next to a cluster of flowers hoping to see some pollinators when I noticed this salamander posing on a rock, just out of the water. After a couple minutes, I realized something was wrong, so I got closer. Its skin was so dry that it was shiny and felt like wax paper. I wasn't sure it was alive until I saw something (which I thought was its leg) start to move near the nape of its neck. Looking even closer, I saw that the moving object was a leech! It was feasting on the salamander. I decided to pull the leech off, but dropped the salamander by accident into the water and was shocked when it recovered and swam off...leech still attached.<br /> <br /> I wonder if the salamander's odd behavior was because of the leech. It must have been perched on that rock or awhile in order to dry out so much. Hopefully it can scrape the leech off somehow. <br /> <br /> Habitat: Woodland pond<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/113597/eastern_newt_adult_-_notophthalmus_viridescens.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/113596/eastern_newt_adult_with_leech_-_notophthalmus_viridescens.html Eastern newt,Geotagged,Notophthalmus,Notophthalmus viridescens,Spring,United States,newt,salamander

Eastern Newt (Adult) - Notophthalmus viridescens This was awful!<br /> <br /> I was sitting next to a cluster of flowers hoping to see some pollinators when I noticed this salamander posing on a rock, just out of the water. After a couple minutes, I realized something was wrong, so I got closer. Its skin was so dry that it was shiny and felt like wax paper. I wasn't sure it was alive until I saw something (which I thought was its leg) start to move near the nape of its neck. Looking even closer, I saw that the moving object was a leech! It was feasting on the salamander. I decided to pull the leech off, but dropped the salamander by accident into the water and was shocked when it recovered and swam off...leech still attached.<br /> <br /> I wonder if the salamander's odd behavior was because of the leech. It must have been perched on that rock or awhile in order to dry out so much. Hopefully it can scrape the leech off somehow.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Woodland pond<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/113598/eastern_newt_adult_-_notophthalmus_viridescens.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/113596/eastern_newt_adult_with_leech_-_notophthalmus_viridescens.html Eastern newt,Geotagged,Notophthalmus viridescens,Spring,United States

    comments (4)

  1. View Calbost Niel's profile
    Calbost Niel
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Great catch with the leech. Had a few of those on my ankles. Not pleasant Posted 4 years ago
    1. View Christine Young's profile
      Christine Young
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Thanks Niel. I have gotten leeches before too, but they are usually always small ones. The leech in this photo doesn't feed on humans (I don't think, at least)...I have handled these same leeches and could never get them to attach. I think they may specialize on amphibians. Posted 4 years ago
      1. View Calbost Niel's profile
        Calbost Niel
        Lion
        View Lion class
        By those I meant leeches. Will investigate how many different ones there are.Thanks for opening my eyes 00 Posted 4 years ago
        1. View Christine Young's profile
          Christine Young
          Lion
          View Lion class
          You're welcome, lol. Leeches are fascinating creatures. Posted 4 years ago

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The Eastern newt

The eastern newt or red-spotted newt is a common salamander of eastern North America. Eastern newts dwell in wet forests with small lakes or ponds. They can coexist in an aquatic environment with small, non-carnivorous fish, however, their skin secretes a poisonous substance when the newt is threatened or injured. They have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years in the wild, and may grow to 5 inches in length.

Info 79 1
Similar species: Salamanders
Species identified by Christine Young
View Christine Young's profile

By Christine Young

All rights reserved
Uploaded Apr 24, 2021. Captured Apr 23, 2021 12:41 in 281 Main St S, Woodbury, CT 06798, USA.
country flag of United States of America Explore United States of America 39,925 9,640 8
  • Canon EOS 90D
  • f/7.1
  • 1/256s
  • ISO100
  • 100mm

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