Newts

Newts in the genus Notophthalmus are found in eastern North America, while species of Taricha are found in the west. The most common of the eastern newts is the red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens), which has a wide distribution in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. The striped newt (N. perstriatus) occurs only in northern Florida, while the black-spotted newt (N. meridionalis) occurs on the Gulf coast of Texas and northern Mexico. The most widespread species of western newt is the rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa) of the coastal states and British Columbia. The California newt (T. torosa) occurs in coastal California and southern Oregon, while the redbellied newt has a relatively restricted distribution in northern, coastal California.

A rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa). Photograph by E.R. Degginger. The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers, Inc. Reproduced by permission.

The most common newts of temperate parts of Eurasia are animals in the genus Triturus, for example, the smooth newt (Triturus vulgaris), the crested newt (T. cristatus), and the alpine newt (T. alpestris). These newts do not have an eft stage, although the adults may spend some time on land. The mountain newts (Euproctus spp.) are another European group of newts.