Newts are endearing little creatures that are fun to observe in the wild and make amusing pets. While they seem defenseless when it comes to fending off hungry predators, they have a few tricks to keep predators away. But are newts poisonous? All newts produce poisonous secretions that make them distasteful or lethal to most … Read more
Many people know that newts love to spend a lot of their time in streams, ponds, and other water bodies. During the winter, they will sometimes even hibernate at the very bottom of ponds to protect themselves from the frost. But how long can newts stay underwater? Newt larvae (baby newts) have gills and can … Read more
Eastern newts (sometimes called eastern red-spotted newts) are found across much of the eastern united states and up into Canada. These newts are easy to identify by their olive-green coloration and the black-bordered red spots along their back. But are eastern newts poisonous? Eastern red-spotted newts produce a highly poisonous toxin known as tetrodotoxin as … Read more
When the winter ends and warmer spring temperatures arrive, amphibians emerge from hibernation and migrate to breeding sites to lay their eggs. Most amphibians will lay their eggs in the water, but many will lay their eggs on land. Amphibian eggs laid in the water can be difficult to tell apart unless you have a … Read more
Salamanders are often informally divided into two groups, “true salamanders” and newts. These two groups are very similar but do have some differences. Salamanders typically have smooth moist skin while newts tend to have more rough, grainy skin. Newts look somewhat like lizards. They have a slender body, a long tail, and four short legs. … Read more
Dogs are natural predators, so it is common for them to chase and catch smaller animals in their mouths. Sometimes, these “smaller animals” may include certain species of newts. But are newts poisonous to dogs? All newts produce toxic skin secretions that can be very irritating or even lethal when ingested by a dog. This … Read more
In the winter, we do not see many newts and salamanders. This is because they are ectothermic (cold-blooded) animals, meaning they can not regulate their internal body temperature. When the environmental temperatures rise or fall, so does their internal temperature. So where do newts go in the winter? All newts hibernate to protect themselves from … Read more
Newts are semi-aquatic animals, which means they live both on land and in the water. They have different ways of breathing in each of these unique environments. On land, they breathe using their lungs, just like us. In the water, they breathe through a process known as cutaneous respiration (breathing through the skin). Newts can … Read more
Fire belly newts, (sometimes called Fire-Bellied Newts) are originally from Asia and are one of the most popular non-native newts kept as pets in the United States. These newts are actually two different species, but they are so similar that they are often referred to as a single species. But are fire belly newts poisonous? … Read more
Newts are capable of living long lives. How long a newt will live depends on many factors. For wild newts, their lifespan will depend on the environment they live in, and the predators they have to deal with. The lifespan of captive newts is mainly dependent on how well their owners take of them. Depending … Read more