Florida's Western Striped Newt to be Restored

Biologists are working to reintroduce Florida's western striped newt - lizard-like salamanders that disappeared from the region in 2007 - to the Apalachicola National Forest, according to reports.

Through captive breeding programs, scientists have started bringing hundreds of newt larvae back to ponds inside the national forest, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Dozens of larvae have survived and emerged as "efts," baby newts that are about two inches long with a tail and four, tiny limbs.

Although this amphibious, mosquito-eating species is not the cutest in the animal kingdom, scientists say they are a critical indicator of the health of their native environments.

"It's not a panda, it's no Bengal tiger, but it is an important component of the longleaf pine forest of the Southeast," said Steve Johnson, a University of Florida assistant professor of wildlife ecology and conservation working with the Meanses on the project. "As stewards of our earth we are bound to help. It's a cool little critter, and it's worth saving."

Experts say it is too early to know if their efforts will be successful, but couple biologists Ryan and Rebecca Means are hopeful, given that newts supposedly play an important role in the region's biodiversity.

The extinction of the striped newt could have far-reaching consequences to its native ecosystem as a whole.

"It's something that could affect many other species that people might think are important," Rebecca told the Democrat.

A combination of factors, including drought, disease, a lack of forest-healthy fire and loss of habitat contributed to their decline.

According to the San Diego Zoo website, newts live on all continents except for Australia and Antarctica. They like to live in ponds, swamps, lakes, rivers, wet mountain forests and grasslands.

A newt is a type of salamander, but a salamander is not always a newt. "Salamander" refers to an entire group of amphibians that have tails as adults. This includes newts as well as sirens, which have lungs as well as gills and never develop beyond the larval stage.