Honeymooning Newts News

They were a little late for Valentine’s Day.

But yesterday, the local amphibian world was one giant orgy of love. My neighbor Jacqueline called me and got very excited when telling me about the newts that were spawning in our nearby lake. She told me they were everywhere and it would be worth my while to take my boys and check it out.

One of my boys has been down with the flu for several days now so I grabbed my youngest and we went down to the lake to check it out. My husband came with us and took some fabulous photos of the honeymooning newts. I realized when I came back home and compared our photos that I need a new camera.

We decided to keep our distance and not disturb the mating salamanders, so I was forced to use my pathetic telephoto. Yikes, I need a new camera. Thank goodness flowers don’t mate. In my pictures the newts look like little brown sticks. In my husband’s pictures the newts look like, well—newts.

What we learned about newts today: They seem to spawn in large groups. The male is lighter in color with a thinner lower body. The female is darker in color with a thicker lower body. It appeared that the female was holding the egg sacks with her back feet.

Or the female was trying to scrape the egg sack off of her back feet and go home and have a cocktail. The females lie under the water after mating and appear to be dead. They do move a little, so our assumption is that they are exhausted after laying their eggs.

Or maybe, they’re dead.

For more about California newts see my article Saving Newts.

All pictures of newts taken by my husband, so don't steal them or I'll get in trouble.

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Comments

[misti]

That is freakin' cool! I think I'd sit there forever, though that is a bit voyeuristic! LOL!

[Jacqueline]

What a cool entry! Great pictures! We were just in time, too. Yesterday, things were winding down at the Newt Love-In, and the able-bodied were starting to make their way back up to the road. (So please keep an eye out for them, oh Savior of Newts!)

A million questions come to mind -- like, what do the hatchlings eat, (and when) and is there anything that eats the egg sacs? And what happens if their water dries up? I think we'll do a little research.

We were not as disciplined as you -- we picked up an egg sac. They feel rubbery, kind of like a superball with a little more give. I thought they would be squishy, like frog egg sacs. Absolutely beautiful.

[Tracy]

What an amazing sight to see. Thanks for sharing it, I have never seen anything like this before.

[chigiy]

Misti,
I feel the same way. If my son weren't with me I would have stayed and watched a lot longer.

Jacqueline,
Talk about breaking the mood. Ha! They all looked so in love I didn't have the heart to disturb them. That is cool to hear about the egg sacs though.

Tracy,
I see newts when I run or hike a lot, but I've never seen this mating ritual before. It was truly beautiful.

[puttputt]

What's their relation with fig Newtons?

[chigiy]

puttputt,
Their relation with fig newtons would be that they share a name. However, I would not try to eat a newt because their skin is very toxic. Stick with just eating fig newtons and save yourself a trip to the hospital.

[kate]

This would have been fun. I'd have loved to have seen this. The photographs are great ... maybe you need to 'borrow' your husband's camera.

[Amber Shaw]

If you see something like this again PLEASE call me!!! This is really cool. Nice pictures Rich!

[chigiy]

Kate,
It was very fun to watch.
I think I need my own new camera.

Amber,
I didn't know you were such a newtist. You can always go running with me after it rains and help me pick them up off the road. Yes, I will let you know next time.

[Shelly]

Seamus described the newt orgy as by saying that they were all "hugging and kissing."