Today I Saw…
South Berwick resident, 12 year old Noah Landis reports an encounter with newts. He sent in a report on these little creatures:
Eye of Newt!
I came across this red-spotted or eastern newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) two weeks ago, after a heavy rainstorm on Squam Lake. This common newt begins its life as pond larvae. It sheds its gills, turns orange and develops dark spots during its terrestrial, juvenile stage (what you see here), when it is called a “red eft.” Adult eastern newts are olive green, and spend their life back in the pond. They always keep their spots. The red-spotted newt is the State Amphibian of New Hampshire. —Noah Landis
July 16th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Those are terrific, Noah!!!!
July 16th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Noah-
Thanks for the research. I have these in my pond and I always thought they were two different animals. Now I know I am seeing the juveniles and the adults.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
That’s really interesting Noah, I didn’t know we had newts in New England, but you really seem to know your stuff!
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:40 am
Noah,
The photos are wonderful! When I clean out the winter dead leaves behind my house, I carefully remove layer after layer to reveal some of these spotted salamanders. I hope they never feel cranky as a human would if someone came into their bedroom and ripped off the blankets while they slept. Great research, too, into Newt-onian physics!