Newts vs. salamanders

[GGarter]

In danish we don't distinguish between newts and salamanders. Here we just call both a salamander. What´defines wether it is a newt or a salamander?

[Stefan-A]

Best I can tell, it only depends on how aquatic they are.

In Finnish, the word for newt is the same as we use for "lizard".

[adamanteus]

It's all Caudata to me!

[Living Earth Zoological]

Taxonomically, there is no difference whatsoever between Newts and Salamanders, all belonging to subfamilies and genera within the Salamandridae family.

The distinguishment of Newts and Salamanders is generally achieved via. the external appearance and morphology of the individual species.

[Zephyr]

I always learned that newts were more or totally aquatic, while salamanders live primarily on land.

[enigma200316]

yeah I'm going to have to agree with zephyr there thats what was told as well.................

[gregmonsta]

What about the Japanese Giant Salamander ..... it lives/breeds/etc in river systems ... is it really a newt???

[adamanteus]

There are no 'real' differences, scientifically........... but
Generally speaking adult newts are more aquatic than adult salamanders (with exceptions).
Newts generally show higher instances of sexual dimorphism (with exceptions)!

[Zephyr]

Hmm... Correct me if I'm wrong, But I coulda swore I read somewhere that salamanders have a greater ability of absorbing oxygen from the environment than newts. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Stefan-A]

That's certainly an interesting claim.

Most newts I think spend a part of the season on land, I know Lissotriton vulgaris certainly does.