Newts (family Salamandridae) are amphibians and a sub-group of salamanders (order Caudata). Unlike salamanders, their skin is granular, rather than slimy, and their costal grooves (over the ribs) are indistinct.

The juvenile, or eft, stage is terrestrial and may be found quite far from water among damp vegetation. The eft is bright orange with black-bordered, darker orange spots on its back. This stage last for 1 to 3 years.

The Eastern newt returns to the water as an adult and changes color to dull red or brown with black spots for better camouflage, but it retains the orange spots, warning predators of its toxicity. The adult is about 3 to 5 inches long. Breeding males develop enlarged hind legs, a strongly keeled tail, and black, horny structures on the toes (the photograph shows a male newt in early March). The female lays several hundred eggs separately on submerged vegetation.

These newts feed on insects, worms, the eggs of fish and amphibians, tadpoles, and small crustaceans and snails. They, in turn, are preyed on by such things as fish, frogs, snakes, raccoons and mink.

Salamanders, like frogs, are important as biological indicators because their porous skin allows absorption of environmental toxins, and because they are present in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats.