Newts live in humid lands with rocks, logs, and holes
nearby. Since they become aquatic during reproduction, some species prefer to
stay in slow-moving streams, otherwise pond, mountain streams, even flooded
meadows, marshes, and lakes are good for them.

Diet: What Do They Eat

During their life on land, adult newts consume small
invertebrates, eggs of amphibians, worms, slugs, and insects while in the water they
usually have aquatic insect larvae, shrimps, and tadpoles. Baby newts or larvae
prefer aquatic insect larvae and tiny shrimps.

Reproduction and Lifecycle

The breeding season mostly start from June and last up to
July. Male newts deposit their sperm pouch known as spermatophore on some
floating objects like leaves in the water. Then
through some courtship periods, (the style defers from one species to another)
the male lures the female to accept the sperm pouch inside their cloaca (an
internal part leading directly to urinary, intestinal, and reproductive tracts).
Some species use their pheromones for attracting potential mates.

Post mating, female newts lay hundreds of eggs and then find
aquatic plants to attach the eggs with. The eggs have a gel-like exterior.
Sometimes, female newts coil themselves around the eggs for protecting them.

A few newt species are known to have an initial tadpole
phase, where they live as an aquatic species with gills and a fish-like
tail. Some of them remain aquatic
throughout their juvenile phase.

Following the tadpole phase, a few species go through
the eft phase. This is where they become terrestrial larvae. Some species which
are aquatic while they are inside the eggs and during the adulthood, might be terrestrial for this phase only.

Most adult newts with their legs and tails are flexible in
land and water at the same time.

Are They Poisonous

Some newts are known to produce toxins to defend themselves
from predators. For humans, newts are poisonous if ingested. Although some newts are popularly kept as pets, thoroughly washing of hands after
handling them is recommended as they carry salmonella bacteria.

Threats and Predators

Fishes, herons, snakes, foxes, prey on newts. Frogs and
fishes eat newt eggs as well.

Interesting Facts

• Japanese fire belly newt can reproduce their
  lens eighteen times, within a span of sixteen years.
• Yunnan lake newt has recently gone extinct.
• The name newt is believed to have come as a result
  of a dialectical difference of the word eft.
• In historical literature, newts are called Tritones,
  so are in Greek, Romanian, and Russian language.
• Newts cannot hear, neither can they produce any
  sound.
• Japanese fire belly newts, paddletail newts, Chinese
  warty newts, and eastern newts are popular pet options.