Red-spotted newt Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens
Spotted a newt in dappled leaves–a flash of red deftly gave warning
The red-spotted newt is a small salamander commonly found in Virginia, but unlike other members of the salamander family, newts pass through three distinct life stages after hatching from an egg. While larva and adults are both aquatic, juveniles called “efts” are terrestrial. Efts inhabit the shaded leaf layer of moist forests. Bright reddish-orange coloration serves to warn potential predators of the eft’s toxicity, which is ten times greater than an adult newt. The skin, muscles, and internal organs of the red-spotted newt contain a potent toxin that acts on the human nervous system and can lead to muscle paralysis. So, don’t eat and don’t touch it!
Kitty Dodd Red Spotted Newt Color Pencil 12 x 12 $375
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