Peninsula Newt
Notophthalmus viridescens

Appearance: Peninsula Newts range in size from 3 – 4 1/8 in. (7.5 – 10.5 cm).  This is a dusky newt that has a dark olive, dark brown, or almost black dorsum.  The venter is yellow and orange-yellow and is speckled black. Neoteny is common for Peninsula Newts.

Habitat: Peninsula Newts are heavily aquatic species. This species can be found in:  most canals, lakes, ponds, drainage ditches, and backwaters and oxbows of rivers and creeks throughout central and south Florida. Peninsula Newts can be seen amongst the aquatic vegetation in water bodies.  In general, Peninsula Newts forego the terrestrial eft stage.

Reproduction/Eggs: Peninsula Newts breed in the winter and spring.  Males develop a heightened tailfin and horny, black excrescences on the inner sides of their hind legs.  This enables the male to use the hind legs to grasp the female around her neck or shoulders.  Males undulate the tailfin so that a waft of pheromones envelopes the female. Once stimulated, the female picks up a sperm packet with her cloacal labia.  Each female can lay about 50 – 100 eggs which she places individually on the stems and leaves of a submerged plant.

Abundance: Peninsula Newts are common-to-abundant in Florida. This species can be found over virtually all of the southern 4/5 of the Florida peninsula.

Range: As the name implies, these salamanders range across peninsular Florida.