Red—spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens Viridescens) 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Colour and number of spots in this species 
     
     varies with age. The immature stages (efts) 
     
     are brick-red; small adults are brown; 
     
    

    
     and larger adults are olive green. A row 
     
     of red spots edged with black is usually 
     
     found along each side. Black spots and 
     
     speckles occur on the backs and under— 
     
     sides of adults. Total length may reach 
     
    

    
     14 cm but averages 10 to 11 cm. Breeding 
     
     occurs in ponds, from late April to mid-summer. Eggs are laid singly on stems 
     
    

    
     and leaves of underwater plants. 'Larvae spend a few months in the water before 
     
     leaving to spend one to three years on land in the immature form known as the 
     
    

    
     red eft. Unlike most 
     
     salamanders the adults 
     
     return permanently to 
     
     water and develop broad 
     
     swimming tails. The 
     
     species prefers quiet 
     
     weedy ponds and is common 
     
     in the province. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     red eft (immature) 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     red—spotted newt (adult) 
     
    
   
   
    
     Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus cinereus) 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     This small salamander has black sides and back with 
     
    

    
     a wide red stripe running down the center of its 
     
    

    
     back from head to tail. Occasionally individuals 
     
     lacking the red Stripe are encountered. Red- 
     
    

    
     backed Salamanders may grow up to 11 cm in length 
     
    

    
     but tail breakage is common so many are consid— 
     
     erably shorter. There creatures have no lungs 
     
    

    
     and so must breathe entirely through their skins.v 
     
     Their life cycle is carried out entirely on land. 
     
     They are common in moist conditions under rocks, leaf 
     
     .mold and rotten logs throughout the woods. Eggs are laid in spring and early 
     
     summer, hidden in rotting logs and stumps. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     REFERENCES: 
     
    
   
   
    
     Cook, F.R. 1967. An Analysis of the Herpetofauna of Prince Edward Island. Nat. 
     
     Mus. Can. Bull. No. 212. Ottawa. 60 pp. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Gorham, S.W. 1970. The Amphibians and Reptiles of New Brunswick. N.B. Museum 
     
     Monographic Series No. 6. St. John. 30 pp. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Martin, J.L. g 1955. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Nova Scotia. N.S. Museum. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Halifax. 17 pp. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Zim, H.S. and H.M. Smith. 1956. Golden Nature Guide: Reptiles and Amphibians. 
     
     Golden Press. New York. 160 pp. 
     
    
   
   
    
     IO