Red-spotted newt

Description:

Larvae: Olive-colored skin and feathery gills. Eft (juvenile): Bright orange-red coloration with small black dots scattered on the back and a row of larger, black-bordered orange spots on each side of the back (the larger spots resemble an eye, which is the meaning of their scientific name "Notophthalamus"). The skin is rough and dry compared to the moist and smooth skin of adults and larvae. Adult (newt): Overall greenish coloration with small black dots scattered on the back and a row of several black-bordered reddish-orange spots on each side of the back. Males have black, rough patches on the inside of their thighs and on the bottom tip of their hind toes during the breeding season.

Habitat:

Eft: moist forest floors and among leaf litter Adult: small bodies of fresh water such as ponds, lakes, marshes, and relatively slow-moving waters with a muddy substrate. They are commonly found in beaver ponds and man-made water bodies.