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For a few weeks here in western New England we are treated to the appearance of the red eft, the terrestrial phase of the eastern newt. And, man, they are everywhere.
The red-spotted newt is more or less ubiquitous throughout eastern North America. The usual life cycle of this species includes three distinct post-hatching stages: (1) aquatic larva, (2) terrestrial (juvenile) eft, and (3) aquatic adult. In some populations, larvae may skip metamorphosis and become paedomorphic adults (like Ambystoma talpoideum), but this is apparently rare for the newts in the Southeast. Efts have slightly rough, dry skin and are bright orange or red, and sometimes even brownish, in color. Once they complete the second metamorphosis to become aquatic adults, their skin changes from orange or red to yellowish-green. Nonetheless, they retain small red spots within black halos found in rows along the sides. These spots, and the efts coloration, are warnings of toxic skin secretions. Because of this chemical defense, newts can coexist with fish, which often eat other salamanders.