Couldn't resist posting these pictures of a female common newt and baby (eft), both from our pond. The eft has frilly external gills at its neck, and is altogether much more delicately-formed than a froglet.
Ooh I was a big fan of newts as a child, often used to catch them and keep them in an old washing up bowl. Never knew the babies were called efts though.
I think I'm right in saying adults used to be called 'ewts', but over time 'an ewt' became corrupted into 'a newt'. Not sure of the timescale involved, though.
Just had a look: 'ewt' is Midddle English, so the shift probably happened some time after 1500.
Efts are sort of teenage newts, between tadpole stage and their first breeding season. But I'm wondering, actually, if mine still has gills, whether it's advanced enough to be called an eft.
Couldn't resist posting these pictures of a female common newt and baby (eft), both from our pond. The eft has frilly external gills at its neck, and is altogether much more delicately-formed than a froglet.
Ooh I was a big fan of newts as a child, often used to catch them and keep them in an old washing up bowl. Never knew the babies were called efts though.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm right in saying adults used to be called 'ewts', but over time 'an ewt' became corrupted into 'a newt'. Not sure of the timescale involved, though.
ReplyDeleteJust had a look: 'ewt' is Midddle English, so the shift probably happened some time after 1500.
ReplyDeleteEfts are sort of teenage newts, between tadpole stage and their first breeding season. But I'm wondering, actually, if mine still has gills, whether it's advanced enough to be called an eft.