NEWT, the name applied to the aquatic members of the family Salamandridae which constitute the genus Molge (Tri ton). The newts are closely related to the true salamanders, Salamandra, from which they differ in the shape of the tail, which is compressed, in relation to their more aquatic habits. They swim with their tails, holding the legs pressed into their sides. A marked sexual dimorphism prevails in most species, the males being more brilliantly coloured and provided with a dorsal crest during the breeding season, lasting through the spring and the early summer. Later in the season the males lose their nuptial ornaments, and the two sexes are more alike; they then retire on land, concealing themselves under stones, logs of wood, or in holes in damp earth, but leaving their retreat at night or in wet weather to search for earth-worms and slugs. In the water they eat tad poles, insect larvae and crustaceans. Newts regenerate lost parts with facility, including whole limbs. One limb can be regenerated
a number of times.
The larvae are provided with three pairs of long, plum-like external gills. The fore limbs are developed before the hind limbs. In a few lakes and ponds, metamorphosis (q.v.) does not occur and the newt becomes sexually mature as an enlarged larva.
The genus Molge extends over Europe, north-west Africa, south-western Asia, eastern temperate Asia (China and Japan) and most of North America. Over 20 species are distinguished. The British species are the crested newt (M. cristata), the com mon newt (Al. vulgaris) and the palmated newt (M. palmata). The first is the largest, and measures 4 to 6in. The skin is more or less rugose, with granular warts, a strong fold extends across the throat, and the male is provided with a high dentate dorsal crest which is interrupted over the sacral region ; the upper parts are dark, with black spots; the sides are speckled with white.