Newts

Newts are the adorable cousins of the salamanders that can be found in North America, Europe, and North Asia. Some species live a mostly aquatic life and others live a land-based life.

Lifecycle

The newt's life cycle begins when two adult newts breed in a body of water. The female newt lays some eggs in the water. The newts are hatched from the egg and live in the lake until they turn into juvenile newts (efts). The efts climb out of the water and live on land util they mature. When they mature into an adult, they breed in water and the lifecycle restarts.

Defenses

Newts show that they're toxic by the bright color of their skin. Most newts are toxic, some secrete it out of their skin, and others have in inside of them.

A certain species of newts called the Taricha which can be found in North America, are especially toxic and have a poison so strong that it can kill an adult male human.

Most newts can be held safely if they are the type that does not excrete the toxic substance, if they do, then they should be handled with gloves or other protective equipment.

Are Newts Salamanders?

A commonly asked question is whether newts are salamanders. Newts are a kind of salamander that live most of their lives in the water. Land salamanders live mostly outside the water.