Newt vs Salamander
Salamanders and newts are amphibians with lizard-like bodies without scales. They both inhabit the moist, damp, wet, or watery environments. They both more often look alike in body organization and classified under the Family: Salamandridae. However, there are considerable differences between salamanders and newts that are more important of being aware of than not.
Newt
Newts are the most diversified group of amphibians of the Family: Salamandridae. In fact, two of every three salamandrids are newts. They are aquatic animals with the ability to live on the ground, as well. They have well-developed four limbs, which are webbed and equal in size. The elongated tail is helpful for them to paddle while swimming. The head is more like a frog, and the both jaws bear true teeth. External gills are important to notice, as those provide respiratory gas exchange surfaces when they are submerged in water. Their skin is warty and dry even though they live in water. Newts are remarkable in their ability to regenerate the body parts including the eyes, spinal cord, intestine, and even the heart. There are some species of newts with the ability to regenerate the body parts up to 18 times. Despite the fact they are vertebrates, their body is mostly soft. Therefore, it could cause many predators to attract towards them. However, the high level of toxicity in newts has been very important for them to be immune against predators.
Salamander
Salamanders are tetrapod amphibians with a long and distinct tail covered by a soft and moist skin. There are about 500 species of salamanders classified under three main Suborders known as Cryptobranchoidea (Giant Salamander), Salamandroidea (Advanceed salamanders), and Sirenoidea (Sirens). They all have four toes in forefeet and five toes in hind feet. Their nose is short and gives them a serpent-like appearance. Salamanders are either aquatic, semi aquatic, or terrestrial. They have a vast range of body lengths, which starts at 2.7 centimetres and some species almost two metres. Accordingly, the bodyweights change from less than 50 grams up to 65 kilograms. However, generally they are about 20 centimetres long and weigh about 200 – 500 grams. The body colourations are different depending on the species, and some are brightly coloured with distinct patterns. Salamanders can regenerate some of their body parts including the limbs, tail, and some other. When there is a chasing predator, the salamander can either stay still or run and drop the tail for the predator. They have the ability to produce toxins to deter the predators.
What is the difference between Newt and Salamander? • Newts usually have a rougher skin with warts, but it is always soft in salamanders. In addition, the skin of salamanders is moist, but it is dry in newts. • Newts live in water, but salamanders can live in both water and ground. • Salamanders could be gigantic sometimes, but newts are most of the time small in body size. • Newts have external gills, but not the fully developed salamanders. • During the breeding season, the newt develop a flat tail, but salamanders have round tail • The ability of regenerating the body parts is remarkably higher in newts than in salamanders.
|
Leon Kushner says
Thanks so much for this definition. My friend recently spotted a red salamander (or newt) near the Credit river in Ontario. Not sure if it was a red salamander or a mud salamander.