It is not known for certain about the existence of dragons, however, in Japan and China they still continue to believe in these mystical creatures, building huge arches in houses in order to meet them with honors and be ready fully armed when mysterious creatures deign to fly to our Earth. One of the representatives of dragons that exist in nature is the Asia Minor newt. This is no coincidence, because the amphibian has a crest and a long tail. Many compare them with dragons, considering them to be a smaller copy of the giants, however, with the absence of wings. The ancient Greeks endowed tritons with divine power, also classifying them as mystical creatures. In myths, amphibians were depicted as half-fish, half-human, which was able to control the depths of the sea, pacify the waves and, conversely, cause a storm.
Best habitat and origin story
The Asia Minor newt belongs to the order of amphibians that live in moisture in slowly flowing water bodies, most often shallow and not very warm. This typenewts are classified as a rare species of omatotritons, which are the closest relatives of the Near Asian amphibian species. These newts are members of the true salamander family. The preferred water temperature in which the amphibian spends most of its long life is about 20 degrees Celsius, and the best habitat where their colonies settle is dense thickets and impenetrable forests. Coming to land, it hides in thick grass, fallen trees or among stones, because it prefers a solitary lifestyle, and can also easily become prey for larger brothers. A distinctive feature of the Asia Minor newt among other representatives of the species is the presence on the back of a crest from 4 to 5 cm high.
In what countries and areas can you find a bright representative of the salamander family?
If answering the question of where this unusual amphibian can be found, it is worth mentioning warm countries such as Turkey and Jordan, because there are the best living conditions for the Asia Minor newt. However, a representative of the salamander family can also be seen in Russia: in the Krasnodar Territory, the Caucasus, Stavropol, Adygea, Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. By the way, the Asia Minor newt of the Krasnodar Territory is not as bright in color as its relatives, who live in hot Israel. Most likely, this is due to the fact thatin the southern regions, the newt does not hide for the winter, and in the more northern regions, it goes into hibernation during the winter period, which sometimes lasts up to 6 months a year. In warm weather, amphibians remain active throughout the year. In our latitudes, the cycle of its life is slightly different: the newt comes to land for the winter in October. Hiding in the bark of trees or in animal burrows until March or mid-May, depending on the onset of warming.
What does an amphibian with a crest on its back look like?
The Asia Minor newt, the photo of which is shown above, is a small amphibian, reaching a length of only 12-14 cm with a tail. Very rarely, males of this species can grow up to 17 cm, but this is the exception rather than the rule. After only three days from birth, the Asia Minor newt can already swim, and by the end of the first week of life, feed on its own. Like many species of animals and insects that exist in nature, male newts have a brighter color than females, being bright representatives of the species. The body color is most often dark olive speckled with brown, and the tail is decorated with a symmetrical silver stripe on both sides. In females, this stripe is weakly expressed. The color of the belly of newts is yellow, sometimes orange, rarely red. Some males have black spots on their belly, females do not have such features. Juveniles are distinguished by a pale color and a small amount of brown specks on the body. In general, by the color of a newt, one can judge its age and gender.
Life cycle
Amphibians breed in water, but spend quite a lot of time on land. Females of the Asia Minor newt can live for about 21 years, but males are not long-lived. Their life expectancy is only 12 years, which is almost half that of the opposite sex.
What does the newt eat in water and how does it get food on land?
The diet of the Asia Minor newt is quite varied. In the water, it feeds on mollusks, larvae, tadpoles, various aquatic insects, and even eats small relatives. On land, he uses his tongue to catch prey, with which he extracts wood lice, worms, and spiders.
Asian newt: interesting facts
One of the most interesting facts about newts is their reproduction process. If the crest of the male is completely straightened, this means that he is ready for mating games and informs the female about this. Mating, as such, does not occur, there is a certain ritual resembling a dance, after which the male leaves his spermatophore on the ground. The female picks it up, sitting down with a cloaca. This is how fertilization occurs. After 2 weeks, less often a month, larvae up to 12 mm in size appear.
Another no less significant fact is the inclusion of amphibians in the Red Book. Asia Minor newts, or rather their numbers, have significantly decreased under the influence and impact on the environment of human waste products and as a resulthis neglect of nature in general. Pollution of water bodies and the desire of people to have an unusual pet in the form of a crested newt in the house made scientists and ecologists classify this species of amphibians as rare. It is worth thinking about it and try to enjoy the beauty from a distance.
