Emperor spotted newt
Neurergus kaiseri
At the Detroit Zoo
Emperor spotted newts are shy and skittish creature that hide during the day and become more active after dusk. Unlike other amphibians, these hardy newts spends the majority of their time on land. They usually only enter the water to breed, during which time they becomes more bold and outgoing. These newts are currently on display at the award-winning National Amphibian Conservation Center – a leader in amphibian conservation and research – which houses a spectacular diversity of frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and caecilians.
Description
The smallest of their genus, emperor spotted newts have a distinctive, bold look that varies based on the individual. Their skin is a patchwork of black and white with a narrow, bright orange-red dorsal stripe. The bellies and legs of these amphibians are often whitish or orange-red and may also have black patches.
Fun Facts
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In the wild, emperor spotted newts are found in a very limited area of Iran.
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This particular newt species uses powerful pheromones for mating. The males will waft their pheromones towards the females with their tails in what looks like a dance. The females will then chase after the males as if playing tag.