Paddletail Newt

Pachytriton labiatus

Paddletail Newts do indeed have a paddle-like tail. It is laterally compressed, and rounded at the end. They are an aquatic species, so this tail helps them greatly while swimming. They also use their tails for courtship and communication-- they wave and fan them from side to side when excited or afraid.

These particular Amphibians are kept as pets, but are very often mislabeled as Firebelly Newts. Paddletails are actually larger than Firebellies, and are more aggressive-- they will even attack and kill other Newts. So it's very important to do your homework if you're after one of these as a pet!

In the wild, Paddletail Newts are found only in China. They live in streams of varying sizes, and are considered to be common at this point. Worms, Mollusks, and Insects make up their diet, and when it comes to reproduction, they make pretty good moms. The females will guard over their eggs until they hatch, a practice that not many Amphibians partake in.

Though they are common now, the population of Paddletail Newts is declining. Habitat loss, collection for the pet trade, and their use in traditional medicine are all causes for concern.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : China
Size : Body Length up to 6in (16cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Amphibia -- Order : Caudata
Family : Salamandridae -- Genus : Pachytriton -- Species : P. labiatus

Image : SADelPlata

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Hong Kong Newt

Paramesotriton hongkongensis

Hong Kong Newts are the only Salamanders found within the territory Hong Kong, though they can also be found in a few other parts of the surrounding area. They can be found in and around slow flowing streams and pools that have sufficient pebble coverage for hiding. Hong Kong Newts do not hibernate  and can be spotted year round.

You can identify these smallish Amphibains by their brown, warty bodies and vibrant orange-spotted undersides. Those bellies are used as a warning to drive predators away. They themselves feed on worms, crustaceans, tadpoles, insects, and small fish.

As with most Amphibians, Hong Kong Newts go through a metamorphosis as they grow. Their tadpole stage has black skin and pink gills, and they have spotted stomachs, but those are yellow instead of orange. The Larvae hatch at around 14mm, and reach their final transitional stage at around 40-44mm. It can take as long as 3 years to reach full sexual maturity.

The major threat facing the Hong Kong Newt is collection for the pet trade. The population is protected in Hong Kong, but is on the decline. Luckily they are able to be bred in captivity, so they aren't in major danger of going extinct just just. They do very well in captive environments, and are said to be quite hardy as adults.

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IUCN Status : Near Threatened

Location : Hong Kong
Size : Body Length up to 15cm

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Lissamphibia -- Order : Caudata
Family : Salamandridae -- Genus : Paramesotriton -- Species : P. hongkongensis

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Eastern Newt

Notophthalmus viridescens

Eastern Newts can be found in the Eastern United States, where they have a range that spans all the way from southern Canada down to Texas. They live in fresh bodies of water, typically near forest areas.

Eastern Newts go through some pretty interesting life phases. Adults will mate on land during the early spring, and the female will lay up to 400 eggs a season, one at a time,  in the water. The eggs are attached to aquatic plants, and will hatch in anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks, depending on the temperature.

Larval Newts look just like their adult selves, only much much smaller. They measure only about 7mm long! The larvae spend their summer eating as many little invertebrates as they can. When late summer comes around they metamorphose into their Juvenile or "Eft" form.

Eft Phase

Efts look different from the adults and larvae. For one, they completely lose their gills in favor of a set of lungs. They also have thinner, less powerful tails. Efts live on land for two to four years and feed on terrestrial invertebrates like snails and springtails. They hibernate under logs and rocks during the winter. Eventually they will grow large, flattened tails and return to the water as adults.

Thanks to those tails, adult Eastern Newts are very powerful swimmers. They remain in water for the rest of their lifetimes, and will feed on just about any invertebrate that they can catch. If they make it past the high mortality larval and eft phases, Eastern Newts can live up to 15 years!

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IUCN Status : Least Concern

Location : Eastern North America

Size : Length 5in (12.5cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Amphibia -- Order : Caudata
Family : Salamandridae -- Genus : Notophthalmus -- Species : N. viridescens

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Danube Crested Newt

Triturus dobrogicus

As the name might suggest, the Danube Crested Newt can be found near the Danube River in Europe. They can be found in a huge range of temperate habitats, ranging from rivers and ponds to forests and scrublands.

Slender bodies and smaller heads set the Danube Crested Newt apart from other members of its genus. The species is sexually dimorphic, with males having higher crests that extend on to their heads.

Breeding takes place every spring, and eggs are typically laid in ponds or other areas of still water. After metamorphosis, most adults will leave the water for a life on land, but some will remain in water year round.

The Danube Crested Newt is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. Their numbers are declining due to habitat destruction and pollution of waterways. Because this species is able to breed with other Newts within their genus, hybridization has also been a cause for decline.

Danube Crested Newts are kept in captivity, and are said to be hardy and easy to maintain.

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IUCN Status : Near Threatened

Location : Europe

Size : Body length 7in (18cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Amphibia -- Order : Caudata
Family : Salamandridae -- Genus : Triturus -- Species : T. dobrogicus

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