salamander swims
Posted by Michael Day on May 8, 2007
Q: High Point State Park, Sussex, NJ. 5 May 07. I saw a salamander or newt (?) swimming in a pond. It was maybe greenish grey, maybe had orange or red spots on the side. Is this typical behavior? Is it a juvenile? I did not see it come up for air for quite a few minutes.
Same date/location: is it possible I heard spring peepers later that evening at dusk?
Habitat: pond/lake
State: New Jersey
Habitat: pond/lake
A: Thanks for supplying the location and dates Michael - very helpful. From your description, I'm pretty sure you saw a Red-spotted Newt. This is an interesting salamander because unlike most salamanders, it lives in water as an adult. Baby Red-spotted Newts (called Red Efts) hatch in water at first but then crawl out and live on land as young, immature salamanders. Once they are old enough, they return to the water to live there as adults. So, altlhough salamanders usually live in water as babies and on land as adults, the Red-spotted Newt reverses this arrangement. Check out this web site: vernalpools.rtpi.org - scroll down to the bottom of the photos and you'll see a photo of an adult Red-spotted Newt and you can click on the title and see the eft as well.
Spring Peepers are indeed calling now and it's very likely that this is what you heard in the evening. Thanks for asking.
John Wiessinger ( May 9, 2007)