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Eastern Newt

Overview:

Scientific Name: Notophthalmus viridescens

Size: 2.5 – 5.5” (adult size), 1.4-3.4″ (eft size)

Status: Can be locally abundant in good habitat but can suffer declines or extirpations when ponds are drained or polluted or when deforestation takes place surrounding breeding ponds.

Habitat:

Inhabit small, permanent ponds with ample aquatic vegetation. Can also occur in temporary ponds, shallows of large lakes, and in river sloughs and backwaters. Terrestrial efts are usually found in wooded areas near breeding ponds utilizing rotting logs, boards and other natural and unnatural cover objects for refuge.

Conservation:

Harmless to humans and their interests, this species has historically been collected for the pet trade and biological supply trade with the sale of wild caught individuals now banned in several states and provinces. They are best conserved by protecting or creating fish-free ponds in close proximity to woodland habitats.  

Best Management:

Consider the effects of altering or destroying vernal pools and other fish-free ponds. Do not impact the pool depression or core buffer area within 100 feet of the pools and aim to protect a wider buffer of 600 – 1000 feet around the pools. Try to maintain the forest canopy and any habitat corridors to other vernal pools and upland habitats.  

Adult Coloration:

Aquatic adults are olive, greenish-brown, or reddish-brown from above with small black dots on the back and tail. Depending on the subspecies there may be a row of red spots along each side, sometimes with black borders. Usually a dark stripe through the eye. The throat and belly are yellow with tiny black dots.  

Adult Characteristics:

Skin is dull and not slimy. Some populations retain external gills (known as neoteny). Breeding, aquatic adult males develop high, rounded tail fins that extend to a point in front of the hind legs. Females have straighter fins that extend to a point in front of the hind legs. Males have thicker hind legs than females with rough, black ridges on the inner thighs and black nubs on the toes.  

Juvenile Characteristics:

A unique life history among Michigan salamander species where eggs are hatched in aquatic habitats, larvae develop into terrestrial juveniles and grow into aquatic breeding adults. Juveniles are known as efts that are fully terrestrial. Efts are usually red, orange, or reddish-brown from above with a light-yellow belly. The skin is rough and bumpy. The tail is round in cross section. Efts that are developing into aquatic adults appear darker and as an intermediate in body shape and color. Adults may occasionally transform into the terrestrial form to transfer between ponds.  

Larvae Characteristics:

Typically, grayish to olive-brown with black spots, have one or two rows of light yellowish spots on each side and a black stripe running through the eyes. The head narrows toward the nose appearing wedge-shaped. Tail fins that extend up the back.  

Species Confused With:

Unlikely to be confused with other salamanders in the region due to the distinctive coloration, bumpy-skin, and distinct terrestrial and aquatic forms.  

Distinction between subspecies:

Two subspecies found in Michigan. Red-spotted Newts (N. viridescens viridescens) have two rows of black-bordered red or orange spots on the back, both as efts and adults. The Central Newt (N. viridescens louisianensis) is smaller and red spots either lack the black borders or are completely absent.  

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