A newt is a type of salamander in the subfamily Pleurodelinae, with a juvenile phase known as an eft. Newts are semiaquatic, alternating between aquatic and terrestrial habitats, and over 100 species can be found in North America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia. They undergo three developmental stages: aquatic larva, terrestrial juvenile (eft), and adult. While adults have lizard-like bodies, they return to the water each year for breeding, primarily living in humid land environments.
Newts are threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, and pollution, with several species endangered, including the recently extinct Yunnan lake newt.
They share characteristics with other salamanders, such as semipermeable skin and four limbs, but their skin is less smooth. Remarkably, their cells can regenerate limbs or organs after injury, a process that may relate to tumor cell behavior.
Breeding occurs in June and July in the Northern Hemisphere, with females laying hundreds of eggs, often attached to aquatic plants. The larvae hatch in about three weeks and feed on algae and small invertebrates. During metamorphosis, they develop legs and lungs, transitioning from larvae to terrestrial efts. North American newts return to the water as adults, while most European species live on land, visiting water solely for breeding.
