Newts
Our pond has newts in it! A couple of weeks ago it was infested - we walked up to the pond and saw tens (40, 100?) of the little critters hanging around in the water. They'd hang just below the surface, suspended motionless, daydreaming. Then they'd swim down out of sight and slowly float back up to the surface. I looked them up and they are Eastern Newts or Red Spotted Newts.I went up to the pond yesterday and the numbers are greatly reduced. I saw maybe half a dozen at a time. Maybe the water is getting warmer? I don't know.
These pics aren't the best. For one thing, they're taken through cloudy pond water. For another, I took them with an unfamiliar camera. But they're still interesting.
This little guy is hanging out by the post supporting the dock. Eastern red-spotted newts begin life as aquatic gilled larva. Then they move to land where they are red, and they are called efts. They remain in the eft stage for 1-7 years. Sometimes they skip it altogether. I've not yet seen efts here but I'm sure I will, with a newt population like this.
The adults turn olive brown and return to the water. They have lots of spots on them. The photo above shows the spotted tail pretty well (better in large size). The spots on their back remain red. You won't see the red, however, unless the light hits them just right.
Labels: nature
posted by Leslie @ 1:11 PM
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As long as none of them run for president. It's nice to see them rest in the water, but I hope it doesn't get too hot and they roast in the water.
Hi Leslie....this brings back fond memories of my childhood years when we would catch newts in our neighborhood pond. Coincidentally I was just describing newts to my 6yod this morning so this was a treat for her to see. Thanks for sharing!
I'll have to show these to my daughter in the morning! Her nickname around here is Newt, she's a red-spotted newt fanatic. Each spring our road (we're on a dead end road so they are relatively safe) is peppered in red efts.
Leslie - congratulations on your newts! All we see in the ponds are frogs. I wonder if there's a competition that keeps the newts out?
I've had this on the backburner for awhile that I should begin cataloging our newts and salamanders. I'll have to start turning over some fallen logs and rocks to see what we have.
This is really cool! We don't see newts right here, although there are some in the little stream near the antique shop where I work. You've been busy while I was working on festivals; lovely flower pictures!
Pablo, HA! I deserved that.
Emily and Mamamoon, what serendipitous timing. I look forward to seeing the efts. The photos I Googled looked striking.
Wayne, we get loads of tadpoles in the pond later in the year. We moved here in late June - August last year and never saw the newts until this spring. I think they came up out of hibernation when the days began warming, and in the heat of the summer they probably prefer the cooler deeper water. That's my guess, based on when I see them.
Extreme newt envy here. How lucky you are!
I love the red-spotted newts, and especially their red eft stage. They are actually very important to the environment as a keystone predator species. I work at a nature park and am always thrilled when one shows up and walks right through the middle of our tour groups. They know they are cool, and like to show off :-P
I love newts!!!!!!!!!
about how many?
A new fan
Mike
How many?
It's real hard to say because they kind of hang in the water, suspended. Some are at the surface and some are down too deep to see (the pond is usually pretty muddy). They swim up, get some air, and drift down. I'd guess when they're active and out, there are about a dozen at the surface at any given time.
A fan? Shucks :) Thank you.
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