Wild Facts

Photo by H. Krisp (Wikimedia)

Earlier this week we talked about the Rough Skinned Newt, so I think it is only fair to end the week with the appropriately named, Smooth Newt. This little amphibian is also known as the Common Newt and they happen to be one of the most common newts throughout Europe. Only Iberia, Southern France, Southern Italy and the Mediterranean Islands are missing this cute little salamander. The Common Newt can even be found in Russia and parts of Asia so apparently they are not afraid to travel. Well, it looks like we are heading to Europe to explore the Smooth Newt so grab your plane ticket and lets go see what we can learn about this amphibian.

On the Move

Outside of their breeding season, the Smooth Newt can be found in a variety of habitats including deciduous forests, bogs, marshes, parks, farmlands and you may even spot them hanging out in your personal garden. Basically, they are just looking for a nice damp place to sit back and relax in. During breeding season, which occurs in early spring, the Common Newt spends the majority of their time in or around standing bodies of water such as ponds, lakes and even roadside ditches. Nothing says romance like dirty ditch water!

Photo by Bogbumper (Wikimedia)

A Magical Transformation

During mating season, both the males and females transform from a brownish-green, dull colour into a magnificent brownish-green colour. Okay, maybe their transformation isn’t that spectacular but their spots do become more prominent. As well, the males develop a nice wavy crest from head to tail, which must go a long way with impressing the ladies. It is important that the Smooth Newt doesn’t get too attached to their skin since as they grow they pretty much shed it every week. I would be upset if I spent all kinds of energy transforming my dull skin into a slightly less dull skin only to lose it in a week!

License to Kill

The average lifespan for the Common Newt is roughly 5 years, however, some individuals have been known to live up to 20 years. I would think it is impossible for a Smooth Newt to live this long in the wild but there is legislation out there helping them live a little longer. For example, in Ireland, it is illegal to capture or kill a newt without a permit. This makes a lot of sense, considering the Smooth Newt is the only newt species found in Ireland so I guess they would want to do everything in their power to protect the little amphibian.

Photo by Thomas Ruedas (Wikimedia)

While all of the Newt’s this week have been great, I think today’s animal, the Emperor Newt, is my favourite so far. Why? Well, there are a couple of reasons but it all starts with their cool and powerful name. This Newt just sounds like it is better than all the rest, doesn’t it?  They are also known as the Mandarin Newt, and can typically be found hanging around water bodies in Yunnan, China or in homes all across the world as wild specimens are often collected for the pet trade industry.

Deceivingly Beautiful

One of the characteristics that makes the Emperor Newt so interesting is their beautiful yet revealing colour pattern. Not only do the bright orange / yellow spots look awesome, they also reveal the dangers of this particular Newt. Each and every one of those colourful spots are poison glads capable of excreting a toxin that can kill 7500 mice.  All the Emperor Newt has to do is expand their ribs and it is “Goodbye Predator”. This may be a cool feature but excreting poison is typically the last line of defence for this calm Newt.

Defense First

Typically the Emperor Newt will try to avoid predators, which is made possible due to their nocturnal habits and solitary lifestyle. If this doesn’t work, they may just rely on their extra thick skull to protect them from any attacks. Naturally, if this doesn’t work then they bring out the big, poisonous guns to end the threat once and for all. I guess at that point, it is the predators fault since the Emperor Newt tried to spare them their lives. I guess some predators will just never learn.

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What’s in a Name?

One last thought about the name of the Emperor Newt. Their scientific name is Tylotoritin shanjing is fun to say but also has an underlying meaning in Mandarin. The species name is derived from two Mandarin words, “shan” meaning “mountain” and “jing” meaning “spirit” or “demon”. I would have to think that any predator that has tasted the Emperor Newt probably agrees with the “demon” part. Oh and I forgot to tell you that the Emperor Newt is typically found at an elevation between 100 and 2500 metres (330 – 8200 feet), which explains where the “mountain” terminology came from. The next time you are walking through Yunnan, be on the lookout for the Mountain Demon also known as the Emperor Newt.

Photo by The High Fin Sperm Whale (Wikimedia)

To continue our week of Newts, we are heading to the west coast of North America to study the Rough Skinned Newt. I will let you choose whether you go to Alaska or California, since today’s creature can be found anywhere between these two locations. Personally, I am going to pick the sunny south since I figure we will have a better chance finding one if there is no snow. The Rough Skinned Newt is known for their high levels of toxicity. Remember I mentioned that how the Chinese Fire Belly Newt was toxic but it probably wouldn’t harm you….well, that isn’t necessarily the case for the Rough Skinned Newt.

A Poisonous Treat

While I haven’t heard of any reported human deaths at the hands of the Rough Skinned Newt, they do carry a harmful chemical that could cause paralysis or death, but you would most likely have to ingest one or more of these Newts to feel the full affects. I have said it before and I will say it again, I don’t recommend eating poisonous newts.  It is unfortunate that predators of small salamanders can’t read Wild Facts since I would tell them the same thing. Typically when a predator consumes a Rough Skinned Newt, it is the last thing they do. However, there are exceptions to every rule.

Photo by Jsayre64 (Wikimedia)

A Battle for the Ages

The Common Garter Snake has actually evolved an immunity to this particular toxin. Interestingly enough, scientists have discovered that it is actually a genetic characteristic that prohibits the toxin from binding to the snake. What does this mean? It means the Common Garter Snake and the Rough Skinned Newt are connected through co-evolution. Over time the snake enjoyed feasting on Newts until one day the Rough Skinned Newt became toxic in an attempt to prevent predation. In an effort to “one-up” the crafty little newt the Common Garter Snake evolved an immunity to higher levels of toxin. This back and forth battle has existed for many years and I am guessing the ball is now in the Rough Skinned Newt’s court. Perhaps evolution will slightly alter the deadly toxin so it becomes effective again. Of course, this will only happen if there is a need for it. Don’t you just love nature?

Photo by Richard Bartz (Wikimedia)

Another day…..Another Newt. Today, we are heading over to Europe to learn about the very interesting, Alpine Newt. Originally, this little salamander could only be found in Central Europe and the mountainous regions of Southern Europe; however, during the 1930′s someone thought it would be a great idea to introduce the Alpine Newt to southern England as well. This introduced population is doing well and is luckily not causing an issue with the native wildlife…..yet. So let’s grab our gear and head across the pond (unless you are already on that side of the ocean) to study the Alpine Newt.

Different Season – Different Colour

What makes the Alpine Newt so fascinating is their colouring, which is linked to their unique lifestyle. You see, this particular aquatic salamander is only aquatic during the mating season. At this time of the year the males will exhibit a beautiful blue colouring on their backs with black and white stippled sides and the amazing bright orange belly (remember when I said the Chinese Fire Belly Newt wasn’t the only one that had this feature?). Naturally, this bright colouring of the male is used to attract a romantic partner. The female on the other hand is a mottled brown colour camouflaging herself with the water. Once mating season is over, the Alpine Newts will head to land where their colours change back to a dark brown/black colour, which helps them blend into their new surroundings.

Photo by Anevrisme (Wikimedia)

Diverse Habitats

As you might expect, the Alpine Newt generally prefers to live in mountainous or hilly regions that are well forested and have access to clean water. Now, I see why someone thought it would be a great idea to introduce them to England. During their terrestrial life stage this little newt can be found hiding in the undergrowth of the forest. Throughout the winter months they will lie dormant (smart little creatures) before emerging in the spring and heading straight to the clean, cool waterbodies for mating season.

Importance of Ecosystems

It is nice to see that the Alpine Newt utilizes every possible feature of their habitat. I guess this just goes to show the importance that the overall ecosystem has on an animal species. What would happen to this salamander if the forest undergrowth was removed? What about if the ponds and streams were polluted and destroyed? We may not always realize that destroying a forest would impact an aquatic salamander but that is the beauty of an ecosystem….everything is intertwined.

Photo from Wikimedia

I was absolutely shocked when I realized that our list of Wild Facts does not contain a single Newt. I don’t know how I have neglected these cute, little, aquatic salamanders for so long but I will make it up to them this week. Yes, since I was so inconsiderate to the Newt’s feelings, I am going to devote this entire week to aquatic salamanders. It is important to note that not all aquatic salamanders are Newts but all Newts are aquatic salamanders. We are going to kick off our amphibious week by heading to China to explore the life of the Chinese Fire Belly Newt.

Mistaken Identity

The Fire Belly Newt is a small salamander with a length ranging between 6 and 10 cm (2.2 – 4″). They are typically dark brown or black in colour but have a beautiful orange, or red belly (hence the name). This belly does make them easier to identify but it is important to note that they are not the only newt’s in the world to have this fashionable feature. In fact, the Chinese Fire Belly Newt is often mistaken for their similar looking cousin, the Japanese Fire Belly Newt – which you will often see in pet stores around the world.  I am still not sure how this mistake happens considering the Chinese Fire Belly Newt has relatively smooth skin and a rounded tail while their Japanese cousin has rough skin and a pointed tail. 

Do Not Eat……Obviously

Did you know that the Chinese Fire Belly Newt is actually poisonous? Yep, they are capable of excreting a toxic substance through the pores on their skin. The good news is this excretion is fairly harmless to humans, unless you eat the entire Newt. My recommendation is to wash your hands after handling the Chinese Fire Belly Newt. Oh and please don’t eat these Newts as their toxins will become more dangerous in large quantities. Now that I have scared you from ever wanting to own one of these as a pet, I should tell you that they are fairly common and nobody on record has ever died at the hands of the Chinese Fire Belly Newt, but I still don’t recommend eating them .

Photo by Dawson (Wikimedia)

For many people, today is officially the end of the holidays as we all prepare to take down the decorations and head back to work. To help ease you back into your normal routine, I thought we would learn about an interesting little turtle known as the Pig Nosed Turtle. This turtle, which is native to Australia and New Guinea is also known as the Fly River Turtle and the Pitted-Shelled Turtle. So grab your morning cup of coffee and snuggle up to the computer as we prepare to learn everything we can about the Pig Nosed Turtle. Then you can scurry around the house before leaving for work.

An Important Link

As mentioned, you need to go to Australia or New Guinea if you want to catch a glimpse of the Pig Nosed Turtle, which is typically found throughout freshwater rivers, lagoons and  streams. Although they are freshwater turtles, they share some qualities with their marine counterparts. In fact, researchers believe that the Pig Nosed Turtle represents an evolutionary link between freshwater and marine turtles. So what are a few of the similarities? Well, like the marine turtle, the Pig Nosed Turtle also have flippers for feet as well as movable digits. This unique freshwater feature make the Pig Nosed Turtle most adapted turtle to life in an aquatic environment, with the exception of their marine counterparts of course.

Photo by Faendalimas (Wikimedia)

A Swimming Pig

As you can tell from the picture, the Pig Nosed Turtle gets their name from their unique nose, which looks very similar to that of a pig. I am not sure what the purpose is for having a nose like this but it definitely makes the turtle interesting. Besides their fun looking nose, they also have a greyish or olive colour, leather shell and gender determining tail. Males will typically have longer tails compared to the females so it is an easy way to tell the gender of your favourite Pig Nosed Turtle.

Major Decline

The Pig Nosed Turtle is the last surviving member of its ancient family, however, their population has declined by over 50% since 1981. Reasons for the decline include harvesting – both adults and eggs – and of course habitat destruction. Hopefully this link between freshwater and marine turtles can be saved from extinction.

That does it for today’s Wild Fact. Enjoy the rest of your day and have fun going back to work.

Photo by Laurent Lebois (Wikimedia)

I have a hunch that today’s Wild Fact is really going to stink.Yes, that is because we are going to learn about the foul-smelling Stinkpot Turtle. It is also known as the Common Musk Turtle and can typically be found in southeastern Canada and the eastern United States. More specifically, you will find these little turtles hanging out in slow moving, shallow water bodies with a nice muddy bottom. So grab your rubber boots, a pair of nose plugs and lets go learn a little more about this smelly turtle.

Too Stinky To Eat

As you may have guessed, the Stinkpot Turtle gets their name from its ability to release a foul, musky odour. Using that definition, you could probably start calling your Dad a “Stinkpot Turtle”. The purpose of this foul smell is to encourage predators to look somewhere else for dinner. Since they are only 8 to 14 cm (3 to 5 inches) in size, this is an important feature for them. Luckily this tactic works incredibly well as the Stinkpot Turtle is hardly ever preyed on. You know you smell bad when a hungry wild animal doesn’t even want to eat you.

Photo from Wikimedia

Cottage Life

As mentioned earlier, the Stinkpot Turtle spends the majority of their time in slow moving water bodies that typically have a muddy bottom. For the most part, they only venture out onto land when ti is time for the female to lay her eggs. With that said, some turtles will go out every now and again to bask in the sun. I guess even turtles can’t resist lying on the beach from time to time. Similarly,  these smelly little turtles have been known to climb up large tree branches, sometimes even higher than 2 m (6 feet) into the air. As boats drive by the turtles will often fall in and go for a nice boat ride. Suntanning and boating… it sounds like a pretty good day at the pond to me.

One Smelly Pet

Although the Stinkpot Turtle smells rotten, this doesn’t stop people from owning them as pets. Recently, the Common Musk Turtle is becoming a popular pet among households. I don’t normally condone having wild animals as pets, however, owning the Common Musk Turtle is taking the pressure off of other more endangered turtles, which is bonus. In fact, the USDA bans the sale of turtles smaller than 4 inches except for the Stinkpot Turtle, so even they are on board with them being used as pets.

That does it for today’s Wild Fact. Enjoy the rest of your day and I will see you tomorrow for another animal fact.

Photo by Hoffryan (Wikimedia)

It may have took awhile to get today’s Wild Fact out, due to computer issues, however, better late than never. I promise it was worth the wait as we are heading to the ocean today to study a critically endangered sea turtle known as the Hawksbill Turtle. This particular turtle can be found throughout tropical areas in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, so you get to choose which area you want to explore. As well, you won’t need to go too deep since the Hawksbill Turtle prefers living along the coastlines where they are close to food and nesting sites.

One Big Heart

The Hawksbill Turtle is smaller than most other sea turtles as they only grow to about 114 cm (45″) in length and weigh up to 68 kg (150 lbs). I find it funny that a 150 lb turtle is considered to be the runt of the family. The young Hawksbill Turtles seem to have more ‘heart” compared to the adults. The juvenile turtles have a heart shaped shell, which becomes elongated as they grow older. Similarly, the shell of this particular turtle tends to be beautifully coloured, which tends to get this turtle into quite a bit of trouble.

Photo by Tom Doeppner (Wikimedia)

Adopt a Turtle

As mentioned, the Hawksbill Turtle is critically endangered as a result of human influence. Although they are globally protected, people still love dining on their eggs and have no problems hunting this turtle for their flesh and amazingly beautiful shell. Similarly, the Hawksbill Turtle is also a victim to fishing as they are often accidentally caught in large fishing nets. Luckily, this turtle is getting some attention as the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) is working hard to ensure that this beautiful creature lives for a long time to come. If you would like to help out with this cause then please feel free to visit the “Adopt a Turtle” website.

The Talons of a Hawk

If you take a look at the head of the Hawksbill Turtle, you will quickly see how they received their name. Yes, their head tapers to a point, which resembles the beak of a majestic bird. Besides the beak, this Turtle also has talons like a Hawk. Okay, maybe I am exaggerating a little bit since I don’t think a pair of claws on each flipper would really constitute  as “talons” but these claws do separate the Hawksbill Turtle from most other sea turtles.

That does it for today’s adventure. Enjoy the remainder of your day and I will see you tomorrow for a new animal fact.

Photo by Hugo Claessen (Wikimedia)

Welcome to Thursday’s edition of Wild Facts. We started the week talking about amphibians and for some reason, it looks like we are heading back to the frog world one more time this week. I would like to thank one of our faithful readers, kanjiruminamoto, for suggesting the Surinam Toad. In a few minutes, you will all be thankful that he recommended this incredible amphibian. The Surinam Toad is found in swamps and marshes throughout much of South America including Brazil, Venezuela, Columbia and of course the wonderful Ecuador. Well, let’s take a minute to find out what makes this particular amphibian so interesting!

Is This Frog Dead?

For starters, this is another frog species that likes to confuse people by being named after a toad. This seems to be a common occurrence though so it really isn’t a big deal. If you ever get to see the Surinam Toad, you will probably think that it is dead. Don’t worry, there is a very good chance they are just hunting. This frog spends a good chunk of their time sitting on the floor of slow moving rivers and streams where they are just waiting to ambush any small fish, insect or worm that happens to cross its path. As the unsuspecting prey passes by the Surinam Toad will either scoop it into their mouth using their unique hands or just simply chomp at them.

The Hands of a Star

Now that I mentioned their unique hands, I guess I should let you in on the secret. This particular frog is also known as the Star-Fingered Toad, which obviously relates to the shape of their fingers. Yes, the front toes have small star-like appendages while their back toes are simply webbed.  So all of this is fascinating but we haven’t even touched the most bizarre feature of the Surinam Toad. This little amphibian is well known for their unusual reproductive strategy.

Photo by Stan Shebs (Wikimedia)

The Most Unusual Reproduction Strategy

Are you sitting down for this? Well, during reproduction the female will release 3-10 eggs which become embedded in her skin on her back. Yes, you read that right! Over the next several days, the eggs will sink into the skin and form little pockets, which gives the female a nice honeycomb look. The larvae will then develop through the tadpole stage in their nice little honeycomb pockets only to emerge as tiny little frogs. Once they emerge from their mothers back, the new-born frogs go on their way and live their solitary life. I told you the Surinam Toad was one interesting amphibian. Now are you happy that kanjiruminamoto recommended this unusual creature for us to learn about today?

Well I hope you enjoyed todays Wild Fact. I will see you back here tomorrow for the final fact of the week.

Photo by Steve Robie

After spending yesterday looking at the beautifully coloured Oriental Fire-Bellied Toad, today’s amphibian may seem to be a little boring but I promise you will enjoy the Dwarf Waterdog despite their lack of fashion flare. That’s right folks! Today we are heading to the United States to learn about a medium-sized (or small-sized, depending how you look at it) salamander that is endemic to the USA. You are probably going to get wet on this trip so you may want to bring your rubber boots and a change a clothes.

The Dwarf Waterdog is a fully aquatic salamander that loves hanging out in slow-moving streams filled with sand and leaves, however, they will live in clear, fast-moving streams as well. Throughout their home range, there are plenty of deep irrigation ditches that provide the perfect slow-moving habitat for our amphibian friend. Interestingly enough, the Dwarf Waterdog is most active during the winter months, which is definitely different than my behaviour. Similarly, these salamanders tend to be nocturnal, so it may be a challenge to find a few specimens for us to study.

Photo by Steve Roble

Okay, so why are they called Dwarf Waterdogs? How small are they? Well, their average length is about 19 cm (7.5″), which doesn’t seem dwarf-like to me. I know plenty of other salamanders that are much smaller than this but weren’t tagged with the dwarf pre-fix, so what gives? Unfortunately, our Waterdog friend here is being compared to other members of its family, Proteidae, which tend to be much larger – about 3 times larger than the Dwarf Waterdog. I guess they are just the runt of the family but I have always found the runt to be just as important as every other member.

Dwarf Waterdog Fast Facts – The Dwarf Waterdog has four-toed feet, a set of large, red, feathery gills and of course the ever-popular flattened tail. Obviously, all of these features allow our amphibian friend to spend the majority of their time in slow (or apparently fast) moving water.

Well, that just about does it for our trip to the United States of America. I hope all of you enjoyed playing around in the streams today and will join me tomorrow for another animal fact. Enjoy the rest of your day.