• Striped Newts

    The Striped Newt is a critically imperiled species in the southeast, with just three populations remaining throughout its historic range.
    Staff from the Amphibian Foundation have been working with the Striped Newt Repatriation Program, propagating healthy Striped Newt larvae, experimentally releasing them back into the wild, and monitoring their success post-release.

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Species
Notophthalmus perstriatus

Range
Striped Newts occur in the southeastern coastal plain, only in Georgia and Florida wetlands.

Declines
The Striped Newts are one of Georgia's rarest amphibian species, with just one known population remaining in the state. We need to save this beautiful species before it is too late!

Habitat
Striped Newts are temporary wetland breeding amphibians, and breed in fish-less wetlands that dry out periodically throughout the year. The are Long Leaf Pine ecosystem endemics. This Long Leaf Pine ecosystem has been reduced to 3% of it's original range in the southeastern coastal plain.

Threats
Major threats include loss of habitat and fire suppression. Striped Newts need open canopy ponds with wiregrass and this habitat disappears when naturally occurring wild fires are suppressed.

Recovery Plan
In 2017, the Amphibian Foundation joined the Striped Newt Repatriation Project. This collaborative effort, led by Ryan Means of Remote Footprints and the Coastal Plains Institute, is focused on the release and ongoing-monitoring of captive-propagated Striped Newts into protected and managed habitat in the southeastern coastal plain. There are only three remaining populations of Striped Newts, and we joined zoos in Detroit, Jacksonville, Memphis, Central Florida, and Lowry Park to maintain and breed these newts in captivity. Foundation staff partnered with GA DNR and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to collect wild Striped Newt larvae from Fall Line Sandhills Wildlife Management Area in middle Georgia. Within a year of joining the program, we have produced healthy Striped Newt offspring. This first generation of captive-bred larvae have joined the Flatwoods Salamanders in Metamorphosis Meadow, and will soon be released into the wild.

Update!
In our first year as a partner on this project, the Amphibian Foundation produced over 120 young Striped Newts! A portion of these have already been released, with our conservation partners, into protected habit in the Florida panhandle. The rest are growing in our Amphibian Conservation and Research Center for later release.


Learn More About Native Amphibian Conservation


Learn More About the ARCC

Did You Know?

The Striped Newt undergoes metamorphosis twice! Many newts change from larvae (tadpole) to eft — an intermediate and terrestrial juvenile form which is uncommon in the salamander world.

Then, some period of time later (it depends on environmental cues, etc ...) they metamorphose again into an aquatic adult newt, with a big tail for swimming..

AF in the Field

Flatwoods Salamander Recovery Team 2017 - Eglin AFB

Flatwoods Salamander Recovery Team 2017 - Eglin AFB

John Jensen and Cottonmouth -  Ocmulgee

John Jensen and Cottonmouth - Ocmulgee

Agkistrodon piscivorus
Fall Line SandHills WMA 2017

Fall Line SandHills WMA 2017

Ryan Myers - Fall Line WMA

Ryan Myers - Fall Line WMA

John Jensen with Gopher - Frog Fall Line WMA

John Jensen with Gopher - Frog Fall Line WMA

Lithobates capito
KSU Biology Mole Salamander Team - Pigeon Mountain WMA

KSU Biology Mole Salamander Team - Pigeon Mountain WMA

Ambystoma talpoideum
John Jensen And Leslie Phillips - Fort Stewart

John Jensen And Leslie Phillips - Fort Stewart

Ambystoma cingulatum
Ryan Means, Leslie Phillips and John Jensen - Fall Line WMA

Ryan Means, Leslie Phillips and John Jensen - Fall Line WMA

Notophthalmus perstriatus
Newt Marking Team - Monson Sandhills

Newt Marking Team - Monson Sandhills

Notophthalmus perstriatus
John Jensen with Marbled Salamanders - Ocmulgee

John Jensen with Marbled Salamanders - Ocmulgee

Ambystoma opacum
Ryan Means And Leslie Phillips - Fall Line WMA

Ryan Means And Leslie Phillips - Fall Line WMA

Notophthalmus perstriatus
Anthony Mandica and John Jensen - Mayhaw

Anthony Mandica and John Jensen - Mayhaw

Hyla gratiosa