Facts about Newt
Newts also consume insects, such as mosquitoes, and other pests and disease vectors.
True salamanders are generally considered to include the genera Salamandra, Lyciasalamandra, Clioglossa, and Mertensiella, while newts include all of the more than ten remaining extant genera (Larson et al.
During the time right after metamorphosis, many North American newt species go through a phase called the eft phase.
Newts are widespread in distribution, covering much of Europe and with species in North America, China, Laos, Vietnam, Japan, Middle East, and northwestern Africa (Larson et al.
The alligator newt (Echinotriton andersoni) of Japan, when grabbed, extends its sharp ribs through its poison glands and directly through the skin of the attacker, injecting the toxin.
Many newts will live out their adulthood on land and only visit water to breed.
All newts have aquatic larvae and some are strictly aquatic as adults, while others are terrestrial as adults, but return to ponds or streams to reproduce (Larson et al.
One theory is that the de-differentiated cells are related to tumor cells since chemicals that produce tumors in other animals will produce additional limbs in newts (Odelberg 2007).
Despite these values, many newts are endangered, largely due to habitat loss.
The oldest form of the name newt is considered to be eft, which is still used for newly metamorphosed juveniles.
Newts have the ability to regenerate limbs, eyes, spinal cords, hearts, intestines, and upper and lower jaws.
According to some reports, it changed for unknown reasons to ewt, and was used as "an ewt," but the "n" from the indefinite article (an) shifted to form a newt.