Red-spotted Newt

Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens

Adirondack Mountains, New York, USA - September 1999

The unpalatable secretions from the skin of the terrestrial form allow it to wander around the forest floor in daylight with relative impunity from predators. The terrestrial form of this species, called a Red Eft, is an intermediate phase in the life cycle of the Red-spotted Newt. It remains in this form for 1-3 years before returning to an aquatic environment where it transforms into an adult.