Newts are fascinating amphibians, recognized for their unique appearances and diverse life stages. Their appearance is not static, evolving as they transition between aquatic and terrestrial environments, which involves distinct physical attributes, varied skin textures, and colors.
Key Physical Attributes
Newts possess a slender, elongated body, characteristic of salamanders. They range from small to medium in size, with many species measuring between 2 to 6 inches long. All newts have four short, splayed limbs, with the front and hind limbs being roughly equal in length, supporting both walking on land and swimming in water. Their tail is a prominent feature, often laterally compressed or paddle-like in aquatic phases, aiding propulsion. In terrestrial stages, the tail is more rounded.
Skin, Color, and Patterns
A newt’s skin offers clues about its species and life stage. Aquatic newts have smooth, slimy skin, while terrestrial forms, like the “eft” stage, exhibit rougher or warty textures; this permeable skin allows for oxygen absorption. Newts display a wide array of colors, including green, brown, and black, often with vibrant orange or red undersides extending to their throats and bellies. These bright colors serve as aposematic, or warning, signals to predators, indicating the newt’s toxicity. Patterns such as spots, stripes, or blotches are common, with some species having unique belly patterns that can identify individuals.
Appearance Changes and Key Visual Identifiers
Newts undergo remarkable transformations throughout their life cycle, impacting their appearance.
Larval Stage
They begin as aquatic larvae, characterized by feathery external gills and a fin-like tail.
Eft Stage
Larvae metamorphose into the terrestrial juvenile stage, known as an “eft”. Efts display vibrant orange or red colors and develop rougher skin, losing gills and developing lungs for land-dwelling. This coloration acts as a warning signal to predators, as efts are highly toxic.
Adult Stage
As efts mature, they return to water, transforming into aquatic adults. Adult newts have smoother skin and a subdued coloration, olive-green or brownish, with a prominent, paddle-like tail fin.
Breeding Males
During breeding season, male newts develop distinct visual identifiers, such as prominent crests along their backs and tails. These crests vary in size and shape depending on the species; for instance, some have a continuous wavy crest, while others have a jagged or broken crest. The presence of these crests in breeding males, along with their more robust build and specific skin textures (smooth in water, rough on land), helps distinguish newts from other amphibians.