Newts are salamanders, but not all salamanders are newts. Newts represent a specific subgroup within the broader category of salamanders, sharing common amphibian traits while possessing their own distinct characteristics.
Understanding Salamanders
Salamanders are a diverse group of amphibians characterized by their lizard-like appearance, featuring slender bodies, four limbs, and long tails. They belong to the scientific order Caudata, also known as Urodela, which means “tailed ones.” Most salamanders have moist, permeable skin, which aids in respiration, and they are typically found in cool, damp environments, often near water sources.
Their life cycle involves metamorphosis, beginning with eggs laid in water. These eggs hatch into aquatic larvae that possess external gills for underwater breathing. As they mature, many species undergo a transformation, losing their gills and developing lungs or breathing through their skin as adults. Adult salamanders exhibit a range of habitat preferences, with some remaining fully aquatic, others becoming primarily terrestrial, and many spending time in both environments.
The Newt’s Unique Characteristics
Newts are a specific type of salamander belonging to the family Salamandridae, within the subfamily Pleurodelinae. This group includes several genera such as Triturus, Notophthalmus, and Cynops. Many newts have a complex, multi-stage life cycle. After hatching from eggs laid in water, they develop into aquatic larvae with gills.
Following the larval stage, many newts, like the Eastern newt, transform into a terrestrial juvenile phase known as an “eft.” Efts typically have rough, granular skin and often display bright coloration, such as the vibrant orange of the red eft. This terrestrial stage can last for several years, during which the eft lives on land, often in moist leaf litter or under logs. After this land-dwelling period, the newt undergoes a second metamorphosis, returning to water as an adult with smoother skin and adaptations for aquatic life, such as a keeled tail.
Key Differences Between Newts and Other Salamanders
One of the most noticeable distinctions between newts and other salamanders is their skin texture. Newts generally possess rough, granular, or warty skin, especially during their terrestrial eft stage, which helps them retain moisture. In contrast, many other salamander species typically have smooth, moist, and often slick skin.
Their habitat preferences and life cycles also present clear differences. While both require moist environments, adult newts often return to aquatic habitats for breeding and live a semi-aquatic to fully aquatic life. Many other salamanders, however, are primarily terrestrial as adults, venturing to water mainly for breeding. This contrasts with most other salamanders, which transition directly from an aquatic larval stage to an adult form without a pronounced land-dwelling juvenile stage. Adult newts also often develop a flattened, paddle-like tail, an adaptation for efficient swimming, whereas many terrestrial salamanders retain rounder tails more suited for movement on land.