Smooth newt

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/smooth-newt

1. What is the scientific name?
2. What is the diet?
3. How does a smooth newt's skin change between water and land?
4. Why do male smooth newts have a crest and bright colors during the breeding season?

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Lissotriton vulgaris
2. What is the diet?Carnivore; specialized invertebrate predator, consuming insects, earthworms, spiders, and other small arthropods
3. How does a smooth newt's skin change between water and land?When it is on land, its skin becomes dry and velvety to keep water from escaping and to blend in with leaf litter. In water, the skin stays smooth and moist, helping it swim and breathe.
4. Why do male smooth newts have a crest and bright colors during the breeding season?Male smooth newts grow a crest on their back and get brighter colors during the breeding season. These changes help them attract females and show they are ready to mate.

Phenotypic Plasticity: The ability of an organism to change its phenotype in response to environmental changes.
Ontogenetic Shift: A significant change in an organism's form or behavior as it progresses through its life stages.
Trophic Dynamics: The study of the feeding relationships and energy flow within an ecosystem.
Species Complex: A group of closely related species that are morphologically similar and may interbreed, making them difficult to distinguish.