Are Newts Considered Salamanders? (Facts Explained)

When you’re looking at the animals in your garden pond, it’s easy to get confused. Some creatures look very similar, but have different names, and you might wonder if they’re really the same or something different. So are newts considered salamanders?

Yes, newts are considered salamanders. Every newt belongs to the salamander family, which means they’re a special type of salamander, not a separate group of amphibians. It’s a bit like how all roses are flowers, but not all flowers are roses.

This means that when you spot a newt, you’re actually looking at a salamander that has developed its own traits and behaviors that make it different from other salamanders.

How Scientists Group Newts and Salamanders

Scientists put all salamanders, including newts, in a group called Caudata, which means “tailed ones.” This group has over 600 species all over the world, and one thing they share is that they keep their tails as adults.

Inside this group, newts belong to the family Salamandridae, also called the “true salamanders.” This family includes newts and other salamanders that share a similar history and traits.

Basically, newts evolved from early salamanders and developed their own unique features, but they’re still part of the salamander family tree.

What Makes Newts Different from Other Salamanders

Even though newts are salamanders, they have some traits that set them apart. The biggest difference is their life cycle, which has several big changes as they grow.

Most newts start as larvae in water. Then they change into a land-based juvenile called an eft, and finally they go back to the water as adults to breed.

This three-stage life is more complicated than what most other salamanders go through.

Newts also usually have rougher, bumpy skin when they’re on land, unlike the smoother skin of many other salamanders.

But when they go back to water for breeding, their skin gets smoother and sometimes more colorful.

Do All Salamanders Live Like Newts?

Not all salamanders move between water and land like newts. Many spend their whole lives on land, and some stay in water as adults.

Some salamanders never leave the water after hatching. They keep breathing through gills instead of lungs, like newts do.

Others live only on land and lay their eggs in moist places instead of returning to water to breed.

This variety in how they live helps salamanders survive in many different environments. Different species can find their own spots and thrive.

Are There Salamanders That Aren’t Newts?

Yes, lots of salamanders aren’t newts. Newts are just one part of the salamander family. Other groups include lungless salamanders, giant salamanders, and mole salamanders.

Lungless salamanders are interesting because they don’t have lungs at all. They breathe only through their skin and the lining of their mouth.

These salamanders usually stay small and live in very wet places where they can get enough oxygen.

Different salamander groups have found ways to live in different places and still stay true to the basic salamander body plan.

Why Do We Have Different Names for the Same Family?

We use both “newt” and “salamander” because different cultures named them at different times.

The word “newt” comes from “eft,” which originally meant the land-based juvenile stage of some salamanders. Over time, “newt” became the common name for salamanders with this complex life cycle of water and land stages.

The word “salamander” stayed as the general name for the whole family, including newts.

Think of it like how we call all canines “dogs” but also use “wolf” or “fox” for specific types.

How Many Types of Newts Are There?

There are about 100 species of newts worldwide. They live on different continents and in different environments.

Europe has the most newt species, with many countries hosting several kinds that have adapted to their local areas.

North America has fewer, but includes well-known ones like the eastern red-spotted newt and the rough-skinned newt.

Asia has some too, with species that live in mountain streams and others in lowland areas.

Each species has adapted to its environment but still keeps the main traits that make it a newt.

Do Newts and Other Salamanders Interbreed?

Usually, newts only breed with other newts of the same species. Sometimes closely related species can crossbreed, but it’s rare.

The further apart a newt is from another salamander type, the less likely they are to successfully breed.

When crossbreeding does happen, it’s usually in places where their ranges overlap and their breeding seasons match.

Even then, the offspring often don’t grow up as well or can’t reproduce. This keeps newts as a distinct group within the salamander family.

Conclusion

So yes, newts are salamanders. They’re just a special branch of the salamander family that has developed its own traits and behaviors.

This shows how newts have changed over millions of years and helps us understand their place in the animal world.