very special amphibians

The newt is a semi-aquatic amphibian with bulging eyes, a long, thin body, an elongated tail that is flat on the sides, and short legs without interdigital webs. They belong to the same family as salamanders, so they look a lot like them.

Its greenish-brown skin, with slightly darker spots, allows it to hide among the leaves and the ground. The belly is different; It has vibrant hues ranging from yellow to orange.

Currently around 100 species of newts are known, distributed among America, Europe and Asia. They live in shallow ponds, streams, ponds, and still deep water. They can also be found in terrestrial areas, such as forests, swamps, and wastelands.

Newts hatch from eggs and live in water during their larval stage. Upon reaching adulthood, they live on land and return to the water to lay their eggs.

Fun facts

• Most of a newt’s life is spent in water or in areas where there are puddles and very wet soil.
• When a newt is faced with a threat, it raises its upper body to show off its colorful belly.
• The bright colors of the belly are due to the presence of toxins that can cause damage, only if the predator eats the newt.
• Twice a year its skin is shed in order to change it for a new one.
• Like salamanders, the body of newts has the amazing ability to regenerate when it has been mutilated; even the eyes and heart can be reshaped.
• Vision and hearing are not well developed. They do not see well at a distance, especially when they are out of the water.
• Their diet is based on eating all kinds of insects and other animals that they can hunt, such as larvae, earthworms, centipedes, arachnids and crustaceans, among others. In times of food shortage they may eat their own young or other newts.