Newts
Smooth Newt (Triturus vulgaris)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Lissamphibia Order: Caudata/Urodela Family: Salamandridae

Newts are members of the Salamandridae family in which the adult form is aquatic or semi-aquatic. In some species the larva leave the water as a brightly-colored terrestrial form called an eft, returning to the water when mature and changing to adult colors. Newt can refer to: Newt, an animal. ... Image File history File links Smooth_newt. ... Binomial name Lissotriton vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758) Subspecies The Smooth Newt, also known as the Common Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris, formerly Triturus vulgaris) is the most common newt species of the Lissotriton genus of amphibians. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Orders Anura Caudata Gymnophiona The subclass Lissamphibia includes all recent amphibians. ... Families Salamander is the common name applied to approximately 350 amphibian vertebrates with slender bodies, short legs, and long tails (order Caudata or Urodela). ... Families Salamander is the common name applied to approximately 500 amphibian vertebrates with slender bodies, short legs, and long tails (order Caudata or Urodela). ... Genera   Calotriton   Chioglossa   Cynops   Echinotriton   Euproctus   Lissotriton   Lyciasalamandra   Mertensiella   Mesotriton   Neurergus   Notophthalmus   Ommatotriton   Pachytriton   Paramesotriton   Pleurodeles   Salamandra   Salamandrina   Taricha   Triturus   Tylototriton The family Salamandridae consists of true salamanders and newts. ... Genera   Calotriton   Chioglossa   Cynops   Echinotriton   Euproctus   Lissotriton   Lyciasalamandra   Mertensiella   Mesotriton   Neurergus   Notophthalmus   Ommatotriton   Pachytriton   Paramesotriton   Pleurodeles   Salamandra   Salamandrina   Taricha   Triturus   Tylototriton The family Salamandridae consists of true salamanders and newts. ...

They are found in North America, Europe, and Asia. North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ...

Characteristics

Newts have the ability to regenerate limbs, eyes, spinal cords, hearts, intestines, and upper and lower jaws. The cells at the site of the injury have the ability to de-differentiate, reproduce rapidly, and differentiate again to create a new limb or organ. One theory is that the de-differentiated cells are related to tumour cells since chemicals which produce tumours in other animals will produce additional limbs in newts.^[1] Many newts produce toxins in their skin secretions as a defense mechanism against predators. Taricha newts of western North America are particularly toxic; the Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa) of the Pacific Northwest produces more than enough tetrodotoxin to kill an adult human foolish enough to swallow a newt. In order to cause harm, the toxins have to enter the body by being ingested or entering a break in the skin. In biology, regeneration is an organisms ability to replace body parts. ... Look up Limb in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Eye (disambiguation). ... The Spinal cord nested in the vertebral column. ... The heart and lungs, from an older edition of Grays Anatomy. ... In anatomy, the intestine is the segment of the alimentary canal extending from the stomach to the anus and, in humans and other mammals, consists of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine. ... Human jaw front view Human jaw left view Human jaw top view The jaw is either of the two opposable structures forming, or near the entrance to, the mouth. ... Drawing of the structure of cork as it appeared under the microscope to Robert Hooke from Micrographia which is the origin of the word cell being used to describe the smallest unit of a living organism Cells in culture, stained for keratin (red) and DNA (green) The cell is the... Embryonic stem cells differentiate into cells in various body organs. ... Tumor (American English) or tumour (British English) originally means swelling, and is sometimes still used with that meaning. ... For other uses, see Toxin (disambiguation). ... Many animals have developed physical Defence mechanisms (British spelling; Defense mechanisms in American English) which act, as evolutionary characteristics in a similar way to psychological defences. ... This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ... Binomial name Taricha granulosa // Subspecies Species Granulosa is divided into two subspecies: Rough-Skinned newt (Taricha granulosa granulosa) Crater Lake Rough-Skinned newt (Taricha granulosa mazamae) A newt with pebbly, non-slimy skin, that is light brown to black on top and yellow to orange on its belly, is most... Tetrodotoxin (anhydrotetrodotoxin 4-epitetrodotoxin, tetrodonic acid, TTX) is a potent neurotoxin with no known antidote, which blocks action potentials in nerves by binding to the pores of the voltage-gated, fast sodium channels in nerve cell membranes. ...

Handling newts

Theoretically it is safe to handle newts provided one thoroughly washes one's hands as newts secrete a toxin that is harmful if swallowed or if it comes into contact with mucous membranes.^{[citation needed]} Like reptiles and other amphibians, newts may carry the salmonella bacteria, and proper hand-washing and sanitation practices should be employed in handling newts.^[2][3] Species S. enterica This article is about the bacteria. ...

The Japanese Fire-Bellied Newt

This pet is relatively easy to care for; however, proper preparations need to be made for its proper housing. This amphibian is dark brown with a bright reddish-orange underbelly. It has poisons in its skin and, in the wild, its bright color serves as a warning to predators. Pet newt are hardy eaters when fed different kinds of worms and shrimp. The newts are mostly aquatic and are best kept in a tank of shallow water with a few rocks.

There are over 300 differnt types of newts. Some are more popular for a pet at home. You do not need to have gravel the glass floor of a tank is fine if there are plants to get out of the water available. Do not have small gravel becuase the newt can eat it and can be toxic to it.

Development

Alpine newt larva

Newts can take several years to reach sexual maturity. Their main breeding season is between February and June. They hatch from eggs laid in ponds or slow-moving streams. In the case of Triturus brackish water is sufficient, but most species are more picky (see image on the right). Then they undergo metamorphosis, during which they commonly leave the water, only to return to the water to live out their adult lives. During the time right after metamorphosis, many North American newt species go through a phase called the eft phase. In some cases their skin changes color, but efts always live their life on land, are almost never seen in the water. Only when the eft reaches adulthood will it begin to live its life in an aquatic fashion, rarely venturing onto land. However, many newts will live out their adulthood on land and only visit water to breed. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2000x757, 721 KB) Smooth Newt larva This image shows an about 1. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2000x757, 721 KB) Smooth Newt larva This image shows an about 1. ... Binomial name Triturus alpestris (Laurenti, 1768) The Alpine Newt (Triturus alpestris) belongs to the order Salamander (Urodela or Caudata) in the class of Amphibians. ... A larval insect A larva (Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of animal with indirect development, undergoing metamorphosis (for example, insects or amphibians). ... In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ... Ponds Cream is a brand of beauty and healthcare products that is produced by Unilever of England. ... Species Alpine Newt()Iberian Newt()Italian Crested Newt()Northern Crested Newt()Danube Crested Newt()Southern Crested Newt()Marbled Newt()Pygmy Marbled Newt()Banded Newt()Smooth Newt() Triturus (from Triton, son of Poseidon and Greek: ura, tail) is a genus of newt, commonly known as the Crested Newt. ... A Pieris rapae larva An older Pieris rapae larva A Pieris rapae pupa A Pieris rapae adult Metamorphosis is a process in biology by which an individual physically develops after birth or hatching, and involves significant change in form as well as growth and differentiation. ...

Distribution

The three common European genera are the crested newts (Triturus sp.), the European newts (Tylotriton sp.) and the banded newts (Ommatotriton sp.). There are also individuals such as the Spanish ribbed newt (Plurodeles waltl), the largest newt, and the Alpine newt (Mesotriton alpestris). For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Species Alpine Newt()Iberian Newt()Italian Crested Newt()Northern Crested Newt()Danube Crested Newt()Southern Crested Newt()Marbled Newt()Pygmy Marbled Newt()Banded Newt()Smooth Newt() Triturus (from Triton, son of Poseidon and Greek: ura, tail) is a genus of newt, commonly known as the Crested Newt. ... Binomial name Gray, 1835 Synonyms Triturus ophzticus Berthold, 1846 The Banded Newt (Triturus vittatus) is a species of salamander in the Salamandridae family. ... Binomial name Triturus alpestris (Laurenti, 1768) The Alpine Newt (Triturus alpestris) belongs to the order Salamander (Urodela or Caudata) in the class of Amphibians. ...

In North America, there are the Eastern newts (Notophthalmus sp.), of which the red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) is the most abundant species, but it is limited to the area east of the Rocky Mountains. The three species of coastal or Western newts are the red-bellied newt, the California newt, and the rough-skinned newt, all of which belong to the genus Taricha, which is confined to the area west of the Rockies. North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... Notophthalmus is a genus of newts known as the North American newt. ... There are three distinct life stages: 1) aquatic larvae (tadpole), 2) terrestrial adult (red eft), 3) aquatic adult (newt). ... For individual mountains named Rocky Mountain, see Rocky Mountain (disambiguation). ... Location Red-bellied newts are found in coastal woodlands, especially the redwood forests, such as those found in the Redwood National Park in California. ... Binomial name Taricha torosa // Subspecies Species torosa is divided into two subspecies: Sierra newt (Taricha torosa sierrae) Costal Range newt (Taricha torosa torosa). ... Binomial name Taricha granulosa // Subspecies Species Granulosa is divided into two subspecies: Rough-Skinned newt (Taricha granulosa granulosa) Crater Lake Rough-Skinned newt (Taricha granulosa mazamae) A newt with pebbly, non-slimy skin, that is light brown to black on top and yellow to orange on its belly, is most... Species Taricha granulosa Taricha rivularis Taricha torosa The genus Taricha consists of three species and four subspecies of Western Newts (sometimes refered to as Pacific Newts). ...

In Southeast Asia and Japan, species commonly encountered in the pet trade include the firebelly newts (Cynops sp.), the paddletail newts (Pachytriton sp.), the crocodile newts (Tylototriton sp.), and the warty newts (Paramesotriton sp.). In the Middle East there are the Middle Eastern newts (Neurergus sp.).^[4] For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... This article is about animals kept for companionship. ... The Fire Belly Newts (Cynops) is a genus of newts native to Japan and China. ... Tylotriton is a genus of newt known as crocodile newts. ... Paramesotriton is a genus of salamander in the Salamandridae family. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Neurergus is a genus of salamander in the Salamandridae family. ...

Etymology

The oldest form of the name is eft, which is still used for newly metamorphosed juveniles, but according to the Oxford English Dictionary it changed for unknown reasons first to euft and then to ewt. For some time it remained as an ewt, but the "n" from the indefinite article (an) shifted to form a newt. See a and an for other examples. The Oxford English Dictionary print set The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is a dictionary published by the Oxford University Press (OUP), and is the most successful dictionary of the English language, (not to be confused with the one-volume Oxford Dictionary of English, formerly New Oxford Dictionary of English, of... An article is a word that is put next to a noun to indicate the type of reference being made to the noun. ... Look up a, an in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Newts in popular culture

• The P.G. Wodehouse character Gussie Fink-Nottle, a friend of Bertie Wooster, has a fascination with newts.
• In 1936, Czech science-fiction writer Karel Čapek wrote an internationally-acclaimed novel called War With the Newts about the discovery of a species of intelligent newts in an island close to Indonesia.
• In Monty Python and the Holy Grail a peasant claims that a suspected witch turned him into a newt, although admits that he "got better".
• The witches in Macbeth include "eye of newt" along with many other ingredients in a recipe for their potion.
• In the film Aliens the character played by Carrie Henn is nicknamed Newt.
• In the anime film Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi), grilled newt is a highly sought-after delicacy in the Aburaya bath house.
• In The Animals of Farthing Wood, the Newt family are among the animals who undertake the dangerous journey to White Deer Park.
• In the Nickelodeon cartoon Catscratch, the character Waffle owns many pet newts.
• In the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling the students take N.E.W.T.s which are the exams for the 7th years at Hogwarts. McGonagall also offers Harry "ginger newts" in book five.
• The 6.10 version of the Linux distribution Ubuntu is codenamed "Edgy Eft".
• In the novel Matilda by Roald Dahl, Lavender, Matilda's good friend, uses a newt to play a prank on the head teacher Miss Trunchbull.
• In the Addams Family t.v. show, Gomez's favorite food was "eye of newt."
• In the novel Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, a character is named "Newt" (played by Rick Schroeder in the TV miniseries).

Called English literatures performing flea, P. G. Wodehouse, pictured in 1904, became famous for his complex plots, ingenious wordplay, and prolific output. ... Augustus Gussie Fink-Nottle is a fictional character who appears in several of P. G. Wodehouses novels. ... Bertie Wooster portrayed by Hugh Laurie in ITVs Jeeves and Wooster series Bertram Wilberforce Bertie Wooster is the wealthy, good-natured co-protagonist and narrator of P. G. Wodehouses Jeeves stories. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... For the song from The Rocky Horror Show, see Science Fiction/Double Feature. ... Karel Čapek (pronounced ; IPA: ) (January 9, 1890 - December 25, 1938) was one of the most important Czech writers of the 20th century. ... War with the Newts (Válka s mloky in the original Czech), also translated as War with the Salamanders, is a science fiction story by Czech author Karel Čapek. ... Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1975 film written and performed by the comedy group Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin), and directed by Gilliam and Jones. ... This article is about Shakespeares play. ... Aliens is a 1986 science fiction movie directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, Carrie Henn, Bill Paxton and Paul Reiser. ... Caroline Marie Henn (born on May 7, 1976 in Panama City, Florida, USA) is a former actress who became famous as Newt, the little girl brought under the protection of Sigourney Weavers character Lt. ... Spirited Away , lit. ... For information on the animated series, please see The Animals of Farthing Wood (TV). ... Mr. ... White deer park is a fictional place from the animated television series The Animals of Farthing Wood based upon the books of the same name author Colin Dann. ... Catscratch is an American animated television series created by Doug TenNapel (the creator of Earthworm Jim and the upcoming Cartoon Network original series Phibian Mike) airing on Nickelodeon in 2005 and in Nicktoons Network in 2006. ... This article is about the Harry Potter series of novels. ... Joanne Rowling OBE (born July 31, 1965 in Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire), commonly known as J.K. Rowling (pronunciation: roll-ing; her former students used to joke with her name calling her the Rolling Stone), is a British fiction writer. ... Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a fictional setting in J. K. Rowlings best-selling Harry Potter series. ... Ubuntu (IPA pronunciation (oo-BOON-too[5])) is a predominantly desktop-oriented Linux distribution, based on Debian GNU/Linux but with a stronger focus on usability, regular releases, and ease of installation at the expense of platform diversity. ... Ubuntu (IPA pronunciation: ) is a Linux distribution offering an operating system predominantly targeted at personal computers. ... For other uses, see Matilda. ... Roald Dahl (IPA: ) (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British novelist, short story author and screenwriter of Norwegian parentage, famous as a writer for both children and adults. ... Four major characters from the original television adaptation: Thing (foreground) with Uncle Fester, Morticia and Gomez Addams The Addams Family is the creation of American cartoonist Charles Addams. ... Lonesome Dove, written by Larry McMurtry, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning western novel and the first published book of the Lonesome Dove series. ... Larry McMurtry (born June 3, 1936 in Wichita Falls, Texas) is a novelist, screenwriter, and essayist. ... Rick Schroder, born Richard Schroder on April 13, 1970 on Staten Island in New York City, (formerly known as Ricky Schroder when he was a child actor on TV) is an American actor who began his career as a child actor. ...

Notes

1. ^ www.bioscience.utah.edu [1]; Acessed 1/24/07
2. ^ Salmonellosis - Reptiles and Amphibians
3. ^ CDC MMWR: Reptile-Associated Salmonellosis --- Selected States, 1998--2002
4. ^ livingunderworld.com [2]; Accessed 2/5/07

External references

• Caudatamedia
• Caudata Culture
• Eastern Newt - Notophthalmus viridescens Species account from the Iowa Reptile and Amphibian Field Guide