h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Red-spotted Newts - A2323018
Author: Mort ( ACE, Sub, Guru ) - A Girl, Interrupted - Love h2g2? Join us at T376427 - U204689

Rescued from the (pre-Rupert) flea market as A511507 - RED SPOTTED NEWTS.

I knew nothing about them before - but I do now!!

It's good to see an entry on things with a name like me! I was thinking of writing one myself actually, but there aren't really any newts in Australia (just a Niwt! <silly).

The first sentence mentions that they're of the salamander species - I'm not sure this is correct. As far as I can find out, they're of the salamander *variety*, but not species - their species is the second part of their scientific name, what appears to be "viridescens" in this case. I think you should change that sentence.

Also in the first paragraph, I think "within the midwest of the USA" should be "in the midwest".

The entry seems very good generally, I'll assume that all other biological facts are correct. Are they ever kept as pets?

Niwt

Thanks Niwt You are right, they are the salamander *family*, but to avoid confusion with the salamader species I have changed it to *salamandridae* as alot of salamander species are family *plethodontidae* Which is obviously were i got confused!

So a newt is always a salamander but a salamander is not always a newt

I have only seen one reference to keeping them in tanks (in about 15 different webpages) and that was only one line saying they 'tolerate' living alongside fish in an aquarium, so I don't think it is encouraged in that way, but I will link to the conservation page via a brief comment on encouraging conservation by building a pond in the garden.

Newts are usually found in Europe and Asia, only 2 types are found in the US, so that is tempting me to write some thing on the other one now!

The measurements and life stage times are slightly variable on all the pages but I have taken the most frequently given ones from the most reputable sites.

Thanks for your comments, and changes made

Mort

I have extended the entry to include all 4 subspecies of the Eastern newt - not just the red-spotted one. Googling on one of the other newts brought up a page on pet care so I will add that in now too.

Hmmm. Looks good. I'll assume all your scientific terminology is correct.

Are there Western newts? I planned to write about newts at some stage, I'm just wondering what there's left for me to write about!

I actually think the entry looks much nicer now, it seems to make more sense and cover much more. Well done! I'll try and read the whole thing through carefully to see if I can make any more useful comments.

Niwt

http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Taricha/T_torosa.shtml is the only other newt found in the USA so that would make a nice complimentary entry.

More newts - well there are many found in Europe in Asia

http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/species.shtml

So plenty for you to write about there

Excellent

Well, I have read in many places that there is only one other species of newt found in the US and that one was listed so I hope it is the right one



You are right, the entry is much more balanced and makes sense being on the Eastern newt in general and then listing the subspecies.

I am pleased you are interested - as it does seem to be a very unique topic

Western North American newts - california (redbelly) newt must be a subspecies

Everybody keeps asking me this....

' as a newt'

"Possibly to do with the Victorian professional mourners known as newts, who had to take a drink at each funeral to be polite.

*Word Wizard adds;* except that they weren't newts, but 'mutes', i.e. silent ones. Still, the phrase is certainly one of the great standbys when describing such a state of inebriation."

So it looks like it is a mutation on that as a mute!

That is the best example of etymology I've seen in a long while.

How can I reward that, I wonder...?

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Seems like a good excuse to get as a newt

Congratulations Mort – well done.

Thanks!

Well deserved

Thanks Gosho.

This was my first pick upon returning to the Scouts after a break

And I thought it was going to be a 'sleeper'

I have to say I am a bit proud of it because the original was erm... let's say nothing like the finished entry plus it shows what you can do with flea market stuff, even on topics you don't know anything about

So, thankyou! (the fact I got 2 picked on the same day helped )