Wednesday, April 16th
April's meeting will focus on how to safely handle and present your reptile to the public. Please feel free to bring your own animal to show off.
Meetings start promptly at 8pm in the Alumni Room of Medaille College.
Annual Banquet
PLEASE NOTE: The annual banquet and recognition dinner will be rescheduled due to conflicts. The new date will likely be a Saturday in May, please contact a board member for more information.
Red Spotted Newt
(Notophthalmus v. viridescens)
The Red Spotted Newt is a subspecies of the Eastern Newt. They generally range in size from 2.5 - 5.5 inches. They are usually brown or olive green with red or orange spots with black outlines on the back. The belly is generally a light yellow color black flecks.
In late winter or early spring the males begin to develop enlarged hind legs with black, horny outgrowths on inner thighs and tips of the toes. Their vents swell and tails become keeled. The females will lay 200 - 400 eggs singly underwater attached to plants. After 3 -8 weeks the 3/8 inch larvae and transform into adults in late summer or early fall.
Red Spotted Newts can be found in ponds with dense vegetation, steams, swamps, and wet forest areas. They feed on worms, insects, crayfish and even other amphibian eggs and larvae. These newts secrete a toxic substance from their skin to protect themselves from predators. If handling in the field be sure to wash your hands thoroughly as soon as possible.
Remember that in many places it is illegal to take wildlife out of the wild without the proper permits from local, state, or federal authorities. Please do not release any captive reptiles or amphibians into the wild as this will disrupt the natural order of our environment. See our amphibian and reptile adoptions page for more information on what to do with unwanted herps.
Every purchase from Wormman.com helps support the WNY Herp Society!
Help reptiles in need by donating to our Adoption Fund! Your donations will help feed and house reptiles waiting for adoption.