Eastern Newt

Notophthalmus viridescens

While many salamanders live their young lives in water and their adult lives on land, Eastern Newts start out in water, then spend two to seven years on land as brightly colored Red Efts, before returning to water to mature into aquatic adults. The water-bound adults remain active year-round and can sometimes even be seen swimming under ice. They are also called Red-spotted Newts.

Look For : Two distinct stages: Adults are olive above, yellowish below, with black-outlined red spots above and small black spots all over; efts are reddish-orange all over, with black-outlined red spots on their backs.

Length : 2 1/2-5".

Habitat : Adults in ponds; efts on moist leaves and under cover in moist woods.

Range : Southeastern Canada and eastern U.S.