Newts (family Salamandridae) have moist skin and long tails. They can secrete a substance from their skin that is very toxic.
 

 
The Striped Newt, Notophthalmus perstriatus, is found in seasonal ponds and cypress bay heads in the northern peninsula. It is brown or green with a yellow underside. A narrow red stripe runs along each side and down the tail. It grows to 4" long. Its aquatic larvae emerge as orange red efts which live on the land for a year or two before returning to the water as adults.
 
The Central Newt, Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis, is found in shallow ponds, cypress and bay heads, slow moving rivers, and streams in northern Florida. Its body is olive to light brown above and yellow below. The brown larvae emerge from eggs within a few days and may pass through an eft stage (reddish above, yellow below), living on land for a year or so before returning to water.
 
The Peninsula Newt, Notophthalmus viridescens piaropicola, is found among hyacinth roots in freshwater in the peninsula. It is dark brown to almost black with a yellow to orange black-spotted underside. It reaches a length of 5.5". It tends to stay in vegetation underwater but occasionally emerges to walk on floating plants.
 

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