Kingdom : Animalia Class : Lissamphibia Family : Salamandridae Scientific Name : Lissotriton Vulgaris Size : 5 - 15cm (1.7 - 5.9in) Weight : 10 - 50g (0.3 - 1.8oz) Top Speed : 42km/h (30mph) Life Span : 2 - 15 years Colour : Black, Brown, Grey, Green, Orange, Red, Yellow Skin Type : Scales Special Features : Permeable, toxic skin and feathery gills
- Newts are small amphibians believed to be a subspecies of Salamander.
- They are found naturally in North America, Europe and Asia.
- There are around 15 species of newts found across the northern hemisphere.
- Depending on the species they vary in size and color.
- They have a lizard-shaped body with four legs and a long tail.
- Incredibly, they can regrow limbs and are able to breathe on land and underwater.
- Interestingly, the chemicals that help them regrow their limbs are responsible for tumors in other animals.
- They are solitary animals which come together during the mating season
- The newt lays eggs in water, the eggs attach themselves to aquatic plants and hatch after 3 weeks.
- The newt tadpoles have feathered external gills which help them breathe.
- The tadpoles grow legs in a few months and start exploring the land nearby.
- Some of the species contain toxins in their skin to ward off their predators.
- A particular Pacific newt species is toxic enough to kill an adult human.
- Habitat loss and pollution have been the major cause of their declining numbers.