Fire Belly Newt

Genus Cynops

Amphibian

Transcript:

Today on Animal Fact Files we’re talking about fire-bellied newts. Be sure to subscribe for more videos! Thank you to Blackkoirecords for today’s fiery request! Fire-bellied newts are from China and Japan and there are just under 10 species. Many of us may know them from the Chinese fire-bellied newts often kept on pet store shelves, but they come in different sizes and even colors! Some fire-bellied newts develop a blue sheen to their tails during mating season. Tail flicking plays a big part in fire-bellied newt mating habits, so a blue tail might appear more appealing to the ladies. Other fire-bellied newts come in lighter olive green colors that sharply contrast with their striking undersides. A fire-bellied newt’s iconic belly can come in shades of red, orange, and even yellow depending on the species. Some have black mottled spots throughout the bright colors, others are almost solid. And the warm hues don’t just stop at their stomachs. Some species have defining spots located behind their eyes or at the hinge of their mouth. It’s no wonder their beautiful patterns have won over the hearts of many pet owners.

In the wild, fire-bellied newts are found in rice paddies, drainage ditches, cattle watering holes, streams, ponds, marshy meadows and forests. Some live around 2,000 meters (1.24 miles) above sea level and hibernate during colder months. When they are active, it’s typically during the day, and they spend their time foraging for prey items such as water insects, snails, earthworms, and even the eggs and young of their own kind! Yikes, I guess they are a bit fiery! This trait also applies to how they defend themselves. Fire-bellied newts can release noxious chemicals which can cause irritation and burning if they’re handled by someone with cuts on their skin. Supposedly, individuals kept in zoos lose this toxicity over time though.

There has been a virus found in the dead bodies of fire-bellied newts that were transported from China to the United State for the pet trade. The virus is one that has previously never been observed in amphibians, and could be a contributing factor of the plight of all amphibians in this day and age. Some species of fire-bellied newts are not listed as threatened, but some are considered endangered. There’s even one that is considered extinct at this point because it hasn’t been observed since the 1970s! Those guys are documented to have been pretty thicc, but the biggest fire-bellied newts can be nearly six inches (15 centimeters) long!

It takes about two to three years for a fire-bellied newt to reach maturity. Generally, the breeding season begins around April or May, though this varies with the species. The males court the females by approaching them and booping snoots. If the female is interested she’ll boop his snoot back, and sometimes they give each other love nips. After some more booping, the male does a 180 and starts fanning his girl with his tail. He’ll creep forward, making her follow him, and leave behind a spermatophore which the female will pick up as she crosses over it. In some species, the female can store the sperm for months and reproduce when she’s ready, in others she’ll be laying eggs within a month. The 200-300 eggs are laid either in water or on moist surfaces such as leaves. The eggs hatch about three weeks later and the babies may take two to almost four months to metamorphose into adults. Fire-bellied newts can live to be more than two decades old.

For more facts on fire-bellied newts, check out the links in the description. Tell us what you think of these awesome animals in the comments! Give a thumbs up for newts, and we’ll see you next time on Animal Fact Files.