Description

Distinguishing Features - Small. Overall colouration, reddy brown or green and have small black dots scattered about; undersides, yellow or yellow-orange with small black dots. Skin, rough. Four toes on the front feet and five on the back.

Size -
6.3 - 10 cm (2.5 - 4 in)

Habitat

Found in southern regions of Northwestern Ontario, near Lake Superior; need small semipermanent woodland ponds for breeding; live in forests during their terrestrial stages; shelter under logs, leaves, rocks and other objects. Aquatic adults are found in pools, usually surrounded by woodland.

Breeding

Mating occurs in the fall, winter, and spring. Females can lay over 100 eggs singly or in clusters attached to vegetation in the water. The larvae hatch in late summer and either metamorphose into efts or become aquatic adults. The eft stage lasts from one to four years when they become aquatic adults that are sexually mature.

Notes

Newts in all stages feed on small invertebrates such as mall crustaceans, fairy shrimp, amphibian and fish eggs; insect larvae are important adult foods.

Aquatic adult newts are active in ponds all year, while efts and terrestrial adults overwinter under logs.

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