© Christopher J. Leary
Red-spotted Newt, Eft Stage (Notophthalmus v. viridescens) |
The eft is the juvenile, terrestrial stage in the red-spotted newt's life cycle. The body color is a bright orange-red to reddish-brown with yellowish-orange spots encircled in black. The bright colors serve as a warning signal to predators that its skin produces a toxic mucus. Body size ranges from 3.5 - 8.6 cm (1 3/8 - 3 3/8 in). The efts are found on the forest floor after rains. Efts metamorphose into adults in 3 to 7 years.
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PRIMENet Amphibian Monitoring Program
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