Paddle-Tailed Newt
Pachytriton brevipes
Distribution,
Climate & Habitat: found throughout eastern China and Japan, in temperate
areas with permanent water such as lakes and ponds. Primarily aquatic
Size: females approach 13 centimetres; males are smaller at around 9 centimetres
Diet: small aquatic invertebrates, small fish and tadpoles
Appearance:a dark brown-black above, mottled with black and orange-red patterning below; the black and orange patterning also extends along the lower edge of the fin-like tail, which is otherwise black. The head is flattened to allow easy movement through the water while swimming. The tail is flat and paddle-shaped to facilitate swimming
Habits: primarily aquatic, swimming with the front and hind legs tucked in next to the body and using the tail to propel through the water, rather similar to the way crocodiles swim. The eyes are small as the Paddle-tail (and many other newts) often finds its prey in the water by smell rather than sight. Adult newts do not have gills, but rather breath through the skin and the mouth. Oxygen is absorbed through the skin from the water, and occasionally they will make journeys to the surface to take a gulp of air through the mouth. They can spend long periods resting underwater
Fascinating Fact:
when threatened by a predator, the Paddle-tail
will expose its underside to show the black and orange patterning on the underside;
this patterning and colouration serves to warn predators that the newt can produce
poisonous skin secretions that make it distasteful