I have an adult Red-spotted Newt, Notophthalmus viridescens, in my small pond. Doing research, and learning about this newt has been a fun journey.
A type of salamander, they start out their life in a pond, marsh, stream or small lake, as an egg mass that resembles a big wad of cotton, attached to a piece of underwater vegetation.
The Red-spotted Newt, lays her eggs, one at a time, and the eggs, often numbering a few hundred, will hatch in a month or two, depending on the water temperature. When the eggs hatch they become larvae with feathery gills and a coloring much like the adult Red-spotted Newt.
The larvae live in their watery environment for 2 to 5 months eating aquatic insects and small snails.
At the end of summer, larvae will leave the water, shedding their gills, developing sac-like lungs, and begin another stage in their lives, as Red Efts, remarkably beautiful orange beings with brighter orange spots, surrounded with black circles.
I enjoy finding Red Efts, while I’m out in the woods. They are slow moving critters, appearing to be willing models for my photography.
They spend as many as 4 years as terrestrial creatures. During this stage the Red Efts will hibernate during the winter under a log or rock. During the summer in dry weather they may seek shelter under those same logs or rocks to keep their skin moist, coming out during rainy weather.
For the next couple years, the Red Eft will become darker, and develop a longer, blade-like tail. He will find a body of water to enter, where he will live for the rest of his life as an aquatic adult. In this stage he will eat insects, frog and fish eggs, crustaceans, and worms.
Red-spotted Newts can live to be 12 to 15 years old. Quite a long life for a critter so small, generally growing as an adult to 5 inches long.
It took me a few years, first to find that I had a newt in my pond. And then to have the information click in my brain, to realize that this newt, and the Red Eft, and all the cottony masses of eggs were all the same species.
Fun finds in the forest!
8 responses to “Red-spotted Newt”
Fascinating, and enjoyable bit of information, I really like learning about the world around me; great photo series.
Charlie, so glad that you enjoyed my post. I too have a passion for learning about the world around me, particularly the world of nature. So MUCH to learn. Seems I will never run out of new information to dig up!
WOW! Pretty amazing they can live to be 15 years, Brenda!
Oh YES Diane! 15 years? Amazing – but then I think, “Well the Newt is in the pond living with a Snapping Turtle. Wonder how long HE will live.” I looked Snapping Turtle up and see that THEY can live to be 150 years old! Wow!
I’m wondering what sort of critters are in your new neighborhood?
Thanks bunches for reading my post!
Super amazing on all accounts…nature is so very cool! Great article, as always…
Thanks BUNCHES Diane!
Yes, nature is amazing. So much to see, so much to learn!
LOVE! I still remember discovering a newt of some type under a flower pot I had placed on a log and watered regularly … then went on vacation … it dried out along with the newt and I was so sad. I can’t wait to dig a small, simple pond in my garden. I say this every year but I think this is the year … then again, I have some small ponds on our new lake property that I can’t wait to explore! What a beautiful newt and how interesting the color and habitat change, and those eggs!
Oh Kathy! That little newt should have just gotten himself a new location, poor guy!
My pond is really tiny, just a smidgeon larger than a big bath tub – one that my husband put in for me. It has been amazing to see how nature supplies the critters, with very little effort on my part.
Hoping you find loads of fun/fascinating things in your ponds!