Newts Mating I
Newts tend to mate during early spring. Capturing them in the act requires enormous patience, good peripheral vision and luck. If the 20 second introductory ritual proves satisfactory to both parties, the male forcibly grabs the female from behind, as seen in this photo. Within several seconds they entwine into a ball and rapidly swirl to the bottom.
In order to photograph this phenomenon, one must remain completely still, overlooking the water for an extended period. Newts aren’t frightened by large shapes but rather by motion.
A person who resists the urge to reposition might as well be tree. But scratching an itch could send the eager partners fleeting in different directions. The trick is to watch for one newt approaching another, then focus and wait to see what happens.
Once at the water’s bottom, the male deposited his sperm package on a leaf for his partner to uptake through an opening called a cloaca, leading to her sex organ.
Though not a very romantic union, the birthing process is surprisingly tender. The female lays 2 or 3 eggs per day, gently nestling them in floating plant roots for protection. Hatchlings remain there until ready to venture forth.
Newts Mating I
Newts tend to mate during early spring. Capturing them in the act requires enormous patience, good peripheral vision and luck. If the 20 second introductory ritual proves satisfactory to both parties, the male forcibly grabs the female from behind, as seen in this photo. Within several seconds they entwine into a ball and rapidly swirl to the bottom.
In order to photograph this phenomenon, one must remain completely still, overlooking the water for an extended period. Newts aren’t frightened by large shapes but rather by motion.
A person who resists the urge to reposition might as well be tree. But scratching an itch could send the eager partners fleeting in different directions. The trick is to watch for one newt approaching another, then focus and wait to see what happens.
Once at the water’s bottom, the male deposited his sperm package on a leaf for his partner to uptake through an opening called a cloaca, leading to her sex organ.
Though not a very romantic union, the birthing process is surprisingly tender. The female lays 2 or 3 eggs per day, gently nestling them in floating plant roots for protection. Hatchlings remain there until ready to venture forth.