What Do Newts Eat? A Guide to Their Amphibian Appetite

Sometimes smooth, sometimes slippery, but always unique. Introducing one of the most interesting salamander relatives: newts. Newts are found in Europe, Asia, and North America. This lizard-frog look-alike belongs to the family Salamandridae, which includes partially terrestrial, or land-dwelling, salamanders. While many newts spend time in both water and on land, some do not divide their time equally between these environments. Where they spend most of their lives usually depends on environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, life stage, or season. As such versatile creatures, let’s dive into the details of what fuels their dynamic lifestyle.

Meet the Newt

As adults, these amphibians typically have soft, smooth skin and splayed feet that are useful for traction. Many of these creatures are uniquely adapted to both terrestrial and aquatic habitats, depending on their life stage. Let’s discuss their general life cycle:

1. Egg Stage: Most of these salamander relatives lay their eggs in water, most of the time in spring. Females can deposit approximately 100 to 400+ eggs per season (usually on aquatic plants or debris). It takes about 2 to 4 weeks for the eggs to hatch, depending on the species and water temperature.
2. Larval Stage (Aquatic): At first, newts do not have limbs, and their legs develop gradually. They begin with external feathery gills (located at the sides of their head) and a finned tail (similar to tadpoles). This stage can last from several weeks to a few months.
3. Juvenile Stage  – also known as the Eft Phase (only in some species): In some species, like the Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens), the larva develops into a terrestrial eft. Lasting about 1-3 years, this phase allows these brightly colored juveniles to explore and disperse on land.
   • Note: Many other newt species do not have this stage and go straight from larva to adult.
4. Adult Stage (Semi-aquatic or aquatic): When mature, adults can return to water for breeding, but they also can live in both aquatic and moist terrestrial habitats. In this adult stage, they can live from 10 to 15 years, depending on the species and environment.

Newtrition Facts

Mainly, newts are carnivores and usually do not eat plants. What these creatures eat typically depends on their size and the availability of prey. Generally, these slippery creatures consume:

• Worms
• Flies
• Spiders
• Beetles
• Mosquito Larvae
• Snails and slugs
• Water fleas
• Tadpoles or young fish

The larvae of these species are voracious predators that mostly eat smaller organisms, such as protozoa and plankton. By preying on these smaller organisms, they play a significant role in maintaining healthy freshwater ecosystems. You can think of them as the vacuum cleaners of freshwater ponds, consuming smaller organisms and even some decaying matter, which helps keep the aquatic environment clean.

Juvenile and adult newts also play an important role in the ecosystem. By consuming various invertebrates, these slippery creatures support food webs and maintain ecological balance. Usually, young newts focus on soft-bodied invertebrates like small insects or worms. On the other hand, adults can eat snails and slugs, and occasionally small fish or other tadpoles (yes, even other newts).

In the water, controlling overgrown populations and removing dead material helps keep the water clear and the ecosystem stable. Specifically, suppressing populations of slugs and beetles helps maintain species balance, which helps prevent overpopulation. Most importantly, by feeding across habitats and seasons, these amphibians play a key role in aquatic and terrestrial food webs.

Newt Hunting Across Life Stages

Throughout their life stages, newts use different feeding strategies. Larval newts usually rely on suction feeding, while juveniles and adults use their hyoid and lingual apparatus (along with specialized jaw muscles and teeth) to handle a broader range of prey and environments. The versatility of their hunting behaviors and feeding techniques demonstrates their high degree of adaptability.

Aquatic Hunting

Primarily, these creatures use suction feeding to capture prey. Suction feeding is when a newt opens its mouth to create a vacuum that draws in not only prey but also water. The main structure involved in this form of feeding is the hyoid apparatus, which is a series of connective tissues and bones in the throat. These parts lower the floor of the newt’s mouth, creating suction. When targeting larger or more mobile prey, some newts grasp prey directly with their jaws.

Terrestrial Hunting

When on land, a newt’s hunting method shifts slightly. They use their sticky tongue to effectively capture and feed on prey. The structure involved in this feeding behavior is the lingual apparatus. This apparatus controls the tongue and enables it to project outward to catch prey. In addition, these salamander relatives can actively hunt or wait to ambush prey.

Small but Seriously Cool

Newts are interesting in so many ways. From contributing to ecosystem stability to serving as prey for other animals, these creatures are a versatile and important part of their ecosystems. Their ability to hunt on both land and in water reflects their unique lifestyle. In addition, many newt species are considered indicator species due to their sensitivity to environmental changes. Therefore, understanding their diet helps us learn how to protect these important indicator species.