Iberian ribbed newt

Pleurodeles waltl · The Iberian ribbed newt is the largest European newt species, native to the central and southern Iberian Peninsula and northern Morocco.

Also called Sharp-ribbed newt, Spanish ribbed newt, Sharp-ribbed salamander.

Iberian ribbed newt
Photo: Diego González Dopico, CC BY 4.0
Iberian ribbed newt
Photo: David Perez, CC BY 3.0
Iberian ribbed newt
Photo: Cangadoba, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAmphibia
OrderUrodela
FamilySalamandridae
GenusPleurodeles
SpeciesPleurodeles waltl

Where it lives

Ponds and ditches of Portugal, most of Spain and northern Morocco.

Fun facts

  • Its ribs can pierce right through its own skin as a defense move, yet the wound heals fast without infection.
  • While its ribs poke out, it oozes a thick, milky poison from skin glands, turning the ribs into venomous spikes.
  • Females can store live sperm inside their bodies for up to five months before using it to fertilize eggs.
  • In the wild it can grow to 30 cm long, making it the largest newt species in Europe.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).