Ezra Mushala

Have you ever seen a small, brightly colored creature in a pond or under damp leaves and thought, “Is that newt really orange?” Yes, some newts are orange. The bright orange often shows on their bellies or sides. It can warn predators, signal health, or even help them blend in. Color can change by species, … Read more

Have you ever seen a newt sliding through a pond or hiding under damp leaves and wondered how it comes into the world? You might ask: are newts oviparous? Yes, newts are oviparous. They lay eggs that grow outside their bodies, usually in water or on damp plants. Female newts carefully attach each egg to … Read more

You’re walking along a quiet pond just after sunset and you spot a newt. That makes you wonder: are newts really more active at night? Most newts are nocturnal or crepuscular, meaning they move and hunt mostly in the evening, night, and early morning. This nighttime activity helps them stay safe from predators and find … Read more

You bend down near a pond and notice a small newt slipping through the water. You might start wondering: are newts actually more aquatic than other salamanders? Yes, newts usually spend more time in water than most salamanders. While many salamanders live much of their adult lives on land, newts often go back to ponds … Read more

Imagine you’re sitting by a quiet pond in the evening, and you spot a newt. You might wonder, are newts really water animals? Or do they just visit ponds from time to time? Newts are both water and land animals. They spend part of their life in water and part on land. How long they … Read more

You’re walking by a pond in the evening and notice a little newt moving slowly along the water’s edge. You might wonder, why now? Why not during the day? Newts are mostly more active at night. They’re crepuscular and nocturnal, which just means they move around in the evening, at night, and in the early … Read more

You might have seen a newt in the wild and wondered: what are newts actually known for? Newts are known for being able to regrow lost body parts, for living part of their life on land and part in water, and for having skin that’s toxic to predators. They’re also symbols of transformation in stories … Read more

You walk into a pet shop and notice a tank with tiny, smooth-skinned creatures gliding through the water. Their tails sway gently, their toes spread wide like little paddles, and their eyes look calm and steady. At first, you might think they’re small fish or tiny lizards. But then you realize, they’re newts. That makes … Read more

You’re walking near a marsh in Florida. The air is thick, the ground damp, and dragonflies buzz around. Suddenly, a tiny creature slips out of the water and crawls onto the muddy edge. Its skin looks smooth and moist, its tail sways, and its little legs paddle carefully forward. At first, you might think it’s … Read more

Newts look harmless, but when you see them in your garden, pond, or forest, you might wonder: are newts invasive? Newts are not always invasive, but some can become a problem if they are moved outside their natural homes. Most native newts live quietly in balance with the local ecosystem, but newts from other places … Read more