Black-Spotted Newt

Range

This specie is located in the states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz and San Luis Potosi in Mexico. It barely extends into northeastern Hidalgo and Puebla. It can also be found in southern Texas along the Gulf of Mexico.

Habitats

This newt prefers warm and shallow waters with vegetative cover like those in ponds, ditches and swamps. They usually find shelter among submerged rocks. Also, their diet comprises of insects, molluscs, leeches, and small amphibians. It also has toxic secretions from skin glands to deter predators. Lastly. Their breeding often takes place in spring but can happen all year. The females lay up to 300 eggs, they are then attached to submerged vegetation in shallow waters.

Identification

The Notophthalmus meridionalis grows to about 50 – 100 mm in total length. It is a smooth-smoothed newt with a comparably large head. They also have elongated limbs. Additionally, they have a finned, vertically compressed tail. This newt has an olive-green dorsum and an orange ventral surface, both surfaces having large black spots. Lastly, it may have yellow stripes on its back and blue-green colouration may be present on the sides.

Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians