Eastern newt

Notophthalmus viridescens

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.
Eastern Newt (Red Eft) - Notophthalmus viridescens Red efts have bright orange aposematic coloring, with darker, reddish spots outlined in black. This stage can last up to 4 years on land, during which time efts may travel far, which ensures outcrossing in the population. Efts eat small insects, snails, and other small arthropods. During winter, they hibernate under logs or rocks. Habitat: Spotted in a mixed forest. https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67360/eastern_newt_red_eft_-_notophthalmus_viridescens.html Eastern newt,Fall,Geotagged,Notophthalmus viridescens,United States,newt,red eft,salamander

Habitat

Eastern newts are at home in both coniferous and deciduous forests. They need a moist environment with either a temporary or permanent body of water, and thrive best in a muddy environment. During the eft stage, they may travel far from their original location. Red efts may often be seen in a forest after a rainstorm. Adults prefer a muddy aquatic habitat, but will move to land during a dry spell. Eastern newts have some amount of toxins in their skin, which is brightly colored to act as a warning. Even then, only 2% of larvae make it to the eft stage. Some larvae have been found in the pitchers of the carnivorous plant "Sarracenia purpurea".

Eastern newts eat a variety of foods such as insects, small molluscs and crustaceans, young amphibians, and frog eggs. They also eat worms.
Eastern Newt (Red Eft) - Notophthalmus viridescens I'm so disappointed that this photo is blurry, but I'm sharing it anyway because this is the REDDEST red eft that I've ever seen! They are usually orange despite their moniker. The color in this photo is true to life! Too bad that I was being bombarded by biting flies while enduring the insane humidity when I was taking this photo because the newt stayed perfectly still during the shot and it could have been so sharp! Oh well :/ Red efts have bright orange (usually) aposematic coloring, with darker, reddish spots outlined in black. This stage can last up to 4 years on land, during which time efts may travel far, which ensures outcrossing in the population. I spotted this one on the edge of a swamp in a mixed forest. It was tiny (just over 3 cm long). Eastern newt,Geotagged,Notophthalmus,Notophthalmus viridescens,Summer,United States,eastern newt,newt,red eft,salamander

Food

Eastern newts are at home in both coniferous and deciduous forests. They need a moist environment with either a temporary or permanent body of water, and thrive best in a muddy environment. During the eft stage, they may travel far from their original location. Red efts may often be seen in a forest after a rainstorm. Adults prefer a muddy aquatic habitat, but will move to land during a dry spell. Eastern newts have some amount of toxins in their skin, which is brightly colored to act as a warning. Even then, only 2% of larvae make it to the eft stage. Some larvae have been found in the pitchers of the carnivorous plant "Sarracenia purpurea".

Eastern newts eat a variety of foods such as insects, small molluscs and crustaceans, young amphibians, and frog eggs. They also eat worms.

References:

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Status: Least concern | Trend: Stable
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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilySalamandridae
GenusNotophthalmus
SpeciesN. viridescens
Photographed in
United States of America