Page 50 - Amphibian

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Newt and salamander assortment “EYE OF NEWT”
The three witches in
Newts and salamanders belong to a smaller group of amphibians than frogs and Shakespeare’s Macbeth
thought this was a
toads – there are only about 360 species. Most live in cool, temperate areas of necessity in their brew.
Europe, North America, China, and Japan, but one “Newt” comes from the
group lives in tropical parts of South America. Anglo-Saxon “efete,”
Adapted to a variety of habitats, they climb trees while “an ewt” became
“a newt” in Middle
and shrubs, burrow, or lead a totally aquatic English. Young newts
existence (pp. 28–29). The largest group, are called efts
about 150 species, have lost their lungs in America.
entirely and breathe through their skin
and throat instead.

Fire
salamander

SLOW MOVER
Fire salamanders are stocky
and heavily built. They prefer damp areas
near water and hunt slow-moving prey,
such as earthworms,
at night.
The crested newt is a
NEWTS GALORE protected species in the
Most newts live on land, returning to water to U.K., but it is also
breed. In the breeding season, the found in other
brightly colored male develops a parts of Europe
crest along his back and tail.
Some species also have toe webs, or
Fire-bellied newts fringes, which are used in courtship
are found in China displays to attract the female (pp. 34–35).
and Japan

Palmate newts live in
Western Europe and
spend more time in water
than common newts

The marbled newt
from France and Spain
(left) sometimes
interbreed with the
crested newt
The crest The alpine newt (above right),
of a male Italian crested left) is a very producing hybrids
newt is larger and pretty European
more distinctive species but is not
than in a confined to
crested newt alpine regions
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