Ezra Mushala

Have you ever seen a small newt slipping through a pond or scurrying across wet leaves and wondered, “How fast can it really move?” Newts aren’t very fast compared to bigger animals, but they move quickly enough to escape predators and hunt for food. In water, they can swim several inches per second. On land, … Read more

You’re sitting in your living room when your curious cat suddenly pounces on something tiny near the window. It’s a small, wiggly newt that somehow got inside. You freeze and wonder: could this little creature be dangerous to your cat ? Yes, some newts are poisonous to cats, but it depends on the species and … Read more

You’re walking along the edge of a quiet forest pond, and something bright catches your eye. A tiny creature with a bold orange body crawls slowly over a wet log. You stop and wonder: is this little orange newt poisonous? Yes, many orange newts are poisonous, but mostly only mildly for humans. Their bright color … Read more

Have you ever found a small newt hiding under a damp log or swimming quietly in a pond and wondered, “Can I touch it?” Newts are delicate, and touching them usually isn’t a good idea. Their skin is thin and very sensitive, and oils, lotions, or even tiny scrapes from your hands can hurt them. … Read more

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