The Spotted Salamander feeds largely upon insects, slugs, snails, and worms. It hibernates on land and has been known to live for up to 24 years under ideal conditions.

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The Red—spotted Newt may reach a length of 5 1/2 inches (14 cm.). Its life history usually includes a terrestrial stage after transformation when it is referred to as an eft. The eft is rough-skinned, ranging in colour from brown to red and it usually has a row of black-circled red . spots on each side. The eft phase may last from one to three years before they reach maturity and move to temporary ponds or lakes to breed. a”

With the return to a water habitat, the body form changes to include an upper and lower central tail fin which is largest in males. Thirteen percent of the adults lacked spots in Cook’s (1967) collection. The males also acquire black horny growths on the inner surfaces of the hind legs and toes-tips. If the pond dries up, the adult may re-acquire the terrestrial characteristics.

Courtship is fairly elaborate in the Red-spotted Newt with males utilizing combinations of visual recognition, smell, and touch to court a female. If the female is receptive to these charms, she will pick up the spermatophore deposited by the male. The eggs are subsequently laid singly along the stems of submerged plants. Breeding activity may be quite prolonged as pairs have been collected into July.

RBDBACK SALAHBNDER

This lungless salamander species has two primary colour forms. The redback variant is by far the most common on the Island. It has a straight reddish, orange, yellow, or light grey back stripe running from the base of the head to its tail. This central back stripe is bordered by dark pigment that extends down its sides. The back and sides of the leadback colour variant are uniformly dark grey. A third, very rare, colour variant called the erythristic, which is entirely red over its back and sides, has been found in other parts of this species range. The bellies of all three are usually black with white or yellow mottling. Its length ranges up to 4 1/6 inches (10.6 cm.).

This species of salamander lays its eggs in rotten logs or other moist habitats. The eggs hatch the same summer in which they are laid and the development is compressed by the gilled larval stage occurring inside the egg. The egg hatches E???“ ~ to release a miniature version of the '5 adult.

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The Redback Salamander uses its moist skin and the roof of its mouth to transfer oxygen to its blood and

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