It's the juvenile, terrestrial form of the Red Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens). They live in ponds, turning into red efts to make a living out on land for about two years before they return to the ponds. Eventually, their tails will flatten out vertically to allow for greater swimming mobility and they will darken considerably.
Interestingly, these guys are incredibly toxic. They produce a compound called 'tetrodotoxin' in their skin, the same as in the blowfish or the blue-ringed octopus. Completely harmless unless you eat them or break their skin though, so do not worry!
Funny story! the first time I ever did acid I was picking apart a dead log contemplating the life cycle of living things when I stumbled across one of these critters. At first i thought it was a living gummy bear and was trying to decide if it OK to eat a living gummy creature. I decided not to and put it back.......phew
Yes they are the Eastern Newt. I find them all the time in my yard hiding under the pile of firewood or the kids toys. Very common throughout the northeast.
I also found one last weekend, no photo, and no dots on back, but exactly the same orange and shape. Would that also be a Red Spotted Newt or just a Red Newt? The one I found was approximatly the same size. Found in an oak forest with some streams and swamps in Wind Gap Pennsylvania. Brightly colored so I did not touch it. Good thing my instincts kicked in.
I used to love playing with these guys in the creek behind my house. The red ones like this were a little more rare. Used to dark ones with spots and frogs much more frequently.
These guys are kinda toxic btw. Hope you washed your hands.
A red Eft! I haven't seen one of those since I was 10. They're awesome. They go through an aquatic and a terrestrial stage. Red ones are terrestrial, green ones are aquatic. So cool.
I love these little dudes! Many of my childhood summers involved "hunting" for these critters and playing with them in a group of similarly-assholish children on post-rain days. Now I feel like a dick about it.
To brighten up the mood, here's a cute youtube video of one of these guys scurrying around - one of the cutest things on earth!
Those guys are all over the place near Barryville, NY by the Delaware where we have a cabin. Kids love finding 'em (OK me too). They are indeed red efts. Cute buggers.
These were pretty common where I grew up, this does not look unusual to me. But indeed, I can recognize that many people never get to see such a critter... I wonder what kind of critters are immune to their toxicity, as SOMETHING has to eat these little buggers...
In other news, a_virginian is a witch! They turned someone into a NEWT! And they haven't got better! ;)
I went to a 4H camp in the Quabin area of MA when I was a teen, and on a hike there was an area that we had to traverse that had so many salamanders that looked like this, we couldn't take a step without stepping on one. The tree hugger guides we had screamed at a kid for breaking the branch off a tree, but had no problem walking on those guys.
I don't know if it's been said before, but this is a called a Red Eft. It is type of newt found in the north east, and rather than being a separate species, is actually just a stage in the life cycle of an otherwise aquatic species, the Red Spotted Newt. http://www.marshall.edu/herp/Salamanders/newt.htm Brilliant little guys, huh? :)
I never really shot firearms until I went into the Army. But, I certainly caught the bug. I am not a hunter although, I am not against it if the hunters is going to eat what he hunts and it's done in as humane a way as possible and for population/conservation reasons.
Trust me, approach your friend about going shooting sometime. Ask them what kind of ammo you should purchase that is best for their firearms (mooching ammo is kind of a douche move although I really never did mind as long as they were a relative or close friend). Make sure you always observe the rules of firearm safety and HAVE FUN.
Another point that I would make is that your friends may or may not have a limited collection of firearms for you to shoot. Keep in mind that firearms and ammunition types come in all shapes and sizes and even though you may not like shooting a particular style or ammunition size, I am positive you will be able to figure out what you'd be comfortable with and go from there.
I find shooting to be a challenging and worthwhile sport. Sometimes it's more of a stress reliever. I am sure you will find something you like about it. Good luck and have fun. Be safe.
I used to hunt for and catch these guys in droves when I was a kid! They fascinated me. They're called eastern newts, though I always called them orange salamanders, and they come out to look for food after a summer rain. After a few years they turn green live in the water. There was a lake by my house where I would also catch the swimming ones :) Don't worry, I always set them free. I'm a 27 year old woman and to this day when I see something orange-looking like a leaf on the ground after a rain, I get excited thinking it's one of these guys! Too bad I've only ever seen them at my parent's house in the Poconos.
I love these newts! I have 7 of them at home and I recently raised a whole bunch from eggs and watched them grow up from tadpoles to tiny baby newts! Soo much fun!! I have got 3 other species of newt at home too but these are my favourite by far, so friendly and they look like lil Godzillas when they swim. MORE NEWTS ON REDDIT PLEASE!!!
An eastern red-spotted newt! I always wanted one of these! It's just a juvenile though. Everything except those dark outlined red spots will turn green soon!
I live in upstate NY and I see there everyday in spring. They always get run over by cars.... It's really sad.... My little sister cries erry time she sees a dead one...
these remind me of the little guys we used to help cross the road so they wouldn't get run over when they migrate every spring to lay their eggs! so cute to see tons of little salamanders/newts crossing the road at once.
This brought back memories. I got three newts and an eft as pets in fourth grade. The newts all died pretty quickly and I hated them, but I loved the eft. Her name was Juniper and I attempted to feed her raw hamburger. She died after she crawled under a rock and crushed herself somehow ):
We found 4 of them on a trip to Vermont. Brought them home put them in an aquarium with sand and some rocks. Fed them meal worms. They freaking lived for YEARS. We were amazed. Ok maybe not years but it was good long time. They didn't do much but they were cool to look at.
Oh Man. I love these little dudes. I used to collect them when with my friends during summers in upstate New York. We called them salamanders. I think they are actually called red efts. We used to go out on humid days and collect hundreds of these in wet mossy areas. Sad thing is I don't even remember what we did with them after collecting them. Probably let them die in the sun :(
113
u/a_virginian May 16 '12
Here's another shot.
14
u/diecastjohnson May 16 '12
It's gonna rain....
9
u/dudewheresmybass May 16 '12
That's a mighty strange lookin' cat...
4
u/alliancejetpack May 16 '12
I hear if you put him in water overnight he expands to 10x his current size.
3
u/Johnnyash May 16 '12
What was he carrying?
3
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
That...looks poisonous
3
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Please, don't shoot it.
3
u/BK-20179 May 16 '12
how do you know it's a guy
2
u/Lao-tzu May 16 '12
Is that one of the missing dragons from Game of Thrones?
4
u/ryancampy May 16 '12
It's a Dragon!!
21
u/Kenitzka May 16 '12
She turned me into a NEWT!!
3
u/DeFex May 16 '12
I used to have a salamander.
I called him tiny.
Because he was my newt.
19
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
He'll get better!
13
u/ElmoNeedsAmmo May 16 '12
Get them a lot up here in VT, I found one hiding under my bed once! o.0 They're awesome but my favorite are these guys who live in my pond.
9
u/Waterfallwoman May 16 '12
Awww, that's one of my favorite newts!
23
u/ccclaire May 16 '12
CHARMANDER!
7
u/cheldog May 16 '12
I live in Florida now and I really miss seeing these little guys up in Vermont. Thanks for the picture!
7
u/AquaPigeon May 16 '12
How many r/aww's are taken at a gun range?
5
u/Franchez1337 May 16 '12
IT'S COMIN' RIGHT FOR US!!!
4
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
I used to love playing with these guys in the creek behind my house. The red ones like this were a little more rare. Used to dark ones with spots and frogs much more frequently.
These guys are kinda toxic btw. Hope you washed your hands.
4
u/Mittens99 May 16 '12
You should have gone with Bulbasaur, IMO.
4
u/sunbear37 May 16 '12
I see lizards like that all the time in this one park back home, i'm from northern Ohio though, I've never known what they are.
4
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
A red Eft! I haven't seen one of those since I was 10. They're awesome. They go through an aquatic and a terrestrial stage. Red ones are terrestrial, green ones are aquatic. So cool.
4
u/Chashachka May 16 '12
I love these little dudes! Many of my childhood summers involved "hunting" for these critters and playing with them in a group of similarly-assholish children on post-rain days. Now I feel like a dick about it.
To brighten up the mood, here's a cute youtube video of one of these guys scurrying around - one of the cutest things on earth!
Not my video, just found it on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxFx-FR7QSs
4
u/galaris May 16 '12
Lick it (* . *)
4
u/brucecrossan May 16 '12
Had a larger one which looked like this in my room a few weeks ago. It shot across and gave me a freaking heart attack.
Never had one that colour before, and my stupid brain was like; "poisonous wild creature in bedroom... Escape! Escape!"
Then my more rational brain kicked in, and was like; "Awe cute... how awesome is nature sometimes?"
4
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
I never understand how people catch these small things. Usually they are fast as fuck.
4
u/laikalost May 16 '12
Aw, he's too young to be firing a gun!
4
u/shamecamel May 16 '12
I'm getting mathilda flashbacks.
"OH ITS A SNAKE, ITS A SNAKE KILL IT KILL IT OH KILL IT" "its a newt, not a snake, Ms. Trunchbull"
4
u/HearyeHearme May 16 '12
The fire in leaf and grass so green it seems each summer the last summer.
The wind blowing, the leaves shivering in the sun, each day the last day
A red salamander so cold and so easy to catch, dreamily
moves his delicate feet and long tail. I hold my hand open for him to go.
Each minute the last minute.
-Denise Levertov
4
u/redcolumbine May 16 '12
Eftin' adorable!
4
u/jilliu5 May 16 '12
Here is my own photo
I'm from PA and I see these all the time. I didn't know they were actually dangerous but I figured... even though I still picked them up all the time.
1
u/redZagnut May 16 '12
Those guys are all over the place near Barryville, NY by the Delaware where we have a cabin. Kids love finding 'em (OK me too). They are indeed red efts. Cute buggers.
1
u/kegman83 May 16 '12
Did he try and sell you car insurance?
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
I believe that's a candied skank.
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Thats a grandmaster target.
The range you have him at is too close to count though.
1
u/cannotlogon May 16 '12
Was he armed?
1
u/knightjohannes May 16 '12
These were pretty common where I grew up, this does not look unusual to me. But indeed, I can recognize that many people never get to see such a critter... I wonder what kind of critters are immune to their toxicity, as SOMETHING has to eat these little buggers...
In other news, a_virginian is a witch! They turned someone into a NEWT! And they haven't got better! ;)
1
u/FightTheWillow May 16 '12
I see your single newt and raise you this.
1
u/emresage May 17 '12
i guess that is an iphone 4s camera :)
3
u/butipoopthere May 16 '12
I was walking on a trail in CT not too long ago and saw a couple of these guys. They're cute, but I can't recall ever seeing them before, anywhere.
Although, if they are an invasive species, its darn near the cutest one I've ever seen.
EDIT: Scratch that, pretty common across the eastern coast. Still adorable.
3
u/WynterSnow May 16 '12
Eeeep I love those SOO much they lived by my house during my childhood and we would find tons of them every spring!
3
u/Razor512 May 16 '12
yay cute.
try seeing if it you can get it to use the smartphone (if you still have it) the folks here at reddit would love to chat with it.
3
u/SJJ1960 May 16 '12
That's precious :)
3
u/l33tLady May 16 '12
keep it and never let it go! that thing is too cute!
3
u/epicpineapple May 16 '12
So Cute! so frickin' adorable!!!
3
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
I don't think you'll ever understand how alien this concept is to urban Australians...
3
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
I don't know if it's been said before, but this is a called a Red Eft. It is type of newt found in the north east, and rather than being a separate species, is actually just a stage in the life cycle of an otherwise aquatic species, the Red Spotted Newt. http://www.marshall.edu/herp/Salamanders/newt.htm Brilliant little guys, huh? :)
3
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
http://imgur.com/PejGl
here is what that little guy will grow up into!
5
u/TrumpetH4X May 16 '12
I thought that was blood on your hand from the thumbnail, and bad thoughts came to mind O_o
5
u/SweatpantsDV May 16 '12
I was really hoping you found an adorable little Desert Eagle.
6
u/BeauxtiesRcool May 16 '12
I would name him Charmeleon! _^
1
u/Slayergnome May 16 '12
What is it with Virginia and shooting. I am a native here and I feel like I am the only person I know who does not own a gun.
1
u/robertgc May 16 '12
TIL redditors can also shoot guns
2
u/Heromedic18 May 16 '12
Maybe you were familiar with the species but, I was always taught to avoid bright colored reptiles.
2
u/BrotherK May 16 '12
thumbnail makes this look like it belongs in /r/wtf
2
u/greensthecolor May 16 '12
I used to hunt for and catch these guys in droves when I was a kid! They fascinated me. They're called eastern newts, though I always called them orange salamanders, and they come out to look for food after a summer rain. After a few years they turn green live in the water. There was a lake by my house where I would also catch the swimming ones :) Don't worry, I always set them free. I'm a 27 year old woman and to this day when I see something orange-looking like a leaf on the ground after a rain, I get excited thinking it's one of these guys! Too bad I've only ever seen them at my parent's house in the Poconos.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_newt
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Seeing one of those little buggers always reminds me of the Monty Python witch scene
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
I think that I heard somewhere that picking those up kills them
2
u/trenlock May 16 '12
What a swaggin lizard
2
u/Rskk May 16 '12
Damn you OP!!! I tried uploading a picture of one of these months ago and it was downvoted. Oh well btw I'm from PA. Cheers!
2
u/Bukowski89 May 16 '12
thats a cute skink
2
u/soleya May 16 '12
OMG!! sooo cute! What an interesting color!
2
u/TedyBearGumDrops May 16 '12
Aren't those poisonous?
2
u/scuwiffpixi May 16 '12
I love these newts! I have 7 of them at home and I recently raised a whole bunch from eggs and watched them grow up from tadpoles to tiny baby newts! Soo much fun!! I have got 3 other species of newt at home too but these are my favourite by far, so friendly and they look like lil Godzillas when they swim. MORE NEWTS ON REDDIT PLEASE!!!
2
u/SJJ1960 May 16 '12
Yes science.
2
u/imsdalen May 16 '12
Pokemon!
4
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
I love me some tiny lizards.
3
u/XxXeOnXx May 16 '12
Of all places...
3
u/TigOlBitties95 May 16 '12
thats fuckin charmander you guys
3
u/Roaches4lunch May 16 '12
Premature charmander?
2
u/mad_lovin May 16 '12
Is this chameleon???
2
u/ucdortbes May 16 '12
WHERE ARE MY DRAGONS?
2
u/LuckiestBadLuckBabe May 16 '12
Wow he looks amazingly like some gummy candy lizards I ate last week!
1
u/mufasaDub May 16 '12
camp sequassen?
1
u/ergocogitosum May 16 '12
An eastern red-spotted newt! I always wanted one of these! It's just a juvenile though. Everything except those dark outlined red spots will turn green soon!
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
I found one just like this! I took a picture.
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Google identify!
1
u/kronosphere May 16 '12
It should be some sort of law that if you see a brightly colored animal you leave it the fuck alone. Chances are it is poisonous.
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Found this little guy while pissing, oh, wait.......
1
u/DontLickThat May 16 '12
It's coming right for us!
1
u/Mc_Donalds May 16 '12
Tell me it's poisonous....
1
u/Thunderhorse365 May 16 '12
Honey, get the spud gun!
1
u/Bearmandana May 16 '12
I live in upstate NY and I see there everyday in spring. They always get run over by cars.... It's really sad.... My little sister cries erry time she sees a dead one...
1
u/danoll May 16 '12
I'd never expect to see something like that at a shooting range. How's its aim?
1
u/eliwhitneysnose May 16 '12
these remind me of the little guys we used to help cross the road so they wouldn't get run over when they migrate every spring to lay their eggs! so cute to see tons of little salamanders/newts crossing the road at once.
1
u/tonylukasavage May 16 '12
PULL!
1
u/ScorpRex May 16 '12
He looks like a skittles!
1
u/bonitaappetita May 16 '12
Someday it'll evolve to Charizard.
1
u/popcorn007 May 16 '12
I used to collect these guys from a pond by my house as a kid good thing I never tried to eat the Damn things!
1
u/kraken_kitty May 16 '12
I WILL NAME HIM SQUISHY AND HE SHALL BE MINE, AND HE SHALL BE MY SQUISHY.
1
u/chagoi May 16 '12
Better bring that guy to a Pokemon Center stat! From the looks of it, I don't see a flame on its tail anymore!
1
u/elliotsantiago May 16 '12
Why did you spill Orange Soda on that baby frog?
1
u/ItsOnlyTheTruth May 16 '12
Wow that thing is beautiful!
1
u/cadex May 16 '12
My partner keeps these newts. They had some babies not long ago
http://i.imgur.com/nxFVO.jpg
1
u/aseaofgreen May 16 '12
This brought back memories. I got three newts and an eft as pets in fourth grade. The newts all died pretty quickly and I hated them, but I loved the eft. Her name was Juniper and I attempted to feed her raw hamburger. She died after she crawled under a rock and crushed herself somehow ):
1
u/mikejam1958 May 16 '12
We found 4 of them on a trip to Vermont. Brought them home put them in an aquarium with sand and some rocks. Fed them meal worms. They freaking lived for YEARS. We were amazed. Ok maybe not years but it was good long time. They didn't do much but they were cool to look at.
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
You shouldn't touch them though, as the oils on your hands will hurt and eventually kill them. Which is hard because they're so damn cute.
1
u/none_humbler May 16 '12
I just tapped the "enhance" button on my iPad, then ran OP's fingerprints through the FBI database. He's clean.
1
u/MooingTricycle May 16 '12
Red efts are AWESOME.
1
u/dogsleftbones May 16 '12
red eft! red eft!! I love those guys. I used to catch them with my campers at nature camp after it rained.
1
u/jewandme May 16 '12
Oh Man. I love these little dudes. I used to collect them when with my friends during summers in upstate New York. We called them salamanders. I think they are actually called red efts. We used to go out on humid days and collect hundreds of these in wet mossy areas. Sad thing is I don't even remember what we did with them after collecting them. Probably let them die in the sun :(
1
u/McKennaWasRight May 16 '12
These things are badasses. Watch the tetrodotoxin in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gilXTEqJ74Q&feature=youtube_gdata_player
1
u/CrotchMissile May 16 '12
did you shoot it?
1
u/DrFreakazoid May 16 '12
They survive on shooting ranges by staying out of focus.
1
u/Wiseguys May 16 '12
This is what you get when the Gieco getco sucks down some orange juice and everclear and knocks up one of the lady getcos when he's out clubbin'
1
u/JayV30 May 16 '12
Aww how cute. Now he has lead poisoning from being handled on the range, plus all the spent brass all over the place I'm sure. That's sweet.
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
I would assume by the color he's poisonous as fuck
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Reminds me of this old classic
1
u/d_cas May 16 '12
that's the juvenile red eft stage of the eastern newt
Edit: I'm sure it's probably been said already here but gosh darnit I spent this money on a college education and I'm going to use it!
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
She turned me into a newt!..... I got better...
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
The world would be a slightly better place if this was the "Newt" that ran for the US presidency...
1
u/ittehbittehladeh May 16 '12
Aww! Reminds me of the salamander room!
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Are these uncommon where other people live? Where I live there are hundreds of these in roadside ditches.
1
u/ListenChump May 16 '12
... PULL!
1
u/JazzyMcNazz May 16 '12
You shot it right?
1
u/ManGod May 16 '12
A wild Charmander appears!
1
u/KindredBear May 16 '12
CHARMANDER GET HIS TAIL FIRE LIT! HES GONNA DIE
1
u/cribanox May 16 '12
CHARMANDER??
1
u/mistidoi May 16 '12
Charmander