Category: Amphibians
These small newts are black with bright-orange coloration on their ventral sides which they use to ward off predators in the wild. They are commonly seen in pet stores and frequently confused with the Japanese fire belly newt (C. pyrrhogaster). They can reach lengths of up to six inches, and have bright red bellies. Chinese fire belly newts are mildly poisonous and excrete toxins through their skin. When searching for a pet fire belly it is best to look for local breeders, or individuals giving their pets away; this helps to reduce the demand for wild-caught specimens that are often poorly handled and/or diseased.
Learn more about the Chinese Fire-Bellied Newt at Wikipedia and Reptiles Magazine.
Caecilians: The Limbless Enigma
Caecilians are amphibians with long, limbless bodies that resemble worms or snakes more than frogs or salamanders. Their name means “blind ones,” a reference to their tiny, skin-covered (or in some cases, non-existent) eyes - which probably don’t get much use, as they spend most their lives burrowing underground. Caecilians are unusual for amphibians in that 75% of them give birth to live young, oftentimes, fully formed. There are also a few species where the mother actually grows a layer of nutritious, fatty skin that is eaten off by her own young, which is analogous to breastfeeding in mammals.
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
