Ephelump Newt
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[edit] Heffalump Newt
The Heffalump Newt (Calotriton Gigantus) is a species of newt. Their name originates from Heffalumps, the fictional aligory for elephants in the Winnie the Pooh series by A. A. Milne
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Caudata Family: Salamandridae Genus: Calotriton Species: C. Gigantus
[edit] Psychobiology
The heffalump newt is the largest amphibian on Earth. It is about 10 feet (3.048 meters) in length and 16 feet (4.876 8 meters) in height. It's head is very froglike, other than the horns and pseudowhiskers. Despite popular belief, it is not behind lake monsters, but it may cause some sightings. It has large body with shortish legs and flexable venomous spines for defense. Some believe they are actually frogs or toads, rather than salamanders or newts. That is just an urban legend.
[edit] Habitat
They live in swamps, forests, and lakes. They live in almost every state.
[edit] Behavior
They have a diet of dragonflies, plankton, tadpoles, small fish, and lichens. Despite their size, they tend to be hunted by birds of prey, such as bald eagles, hawks and falcons. Their venom spines are the actual reason ov overpopulation.
Mating Mating season is from August 12- September 3 in there 18th year. The males create a "love nest" out of spit, twigs, and strawberries. Strawberries are an aphrodesiac among the species, they increas sexual hormones. The male covers himself in strawberry juices and goes to the mating ground. He examines the females and chooses the one he likes the best. They perform a courtship dance and return to the love nest to mate. The process is done by wrapping arond eachother like serpents. 6 months later, the ephelump newt female lays 20 tennis ball sized eggs. Then in 5 months, they hatch into five inch long and six inch tall plankton and dragonfly gobblers. By the time they reach five, they are the size of a german shepard. By the time they reach 17, they are full size. They remain that size until they die around 62.
[edit] Human Interaction
They are near threatened, so they are in zoos all over the country. Somerton City Zoo in Summerton, California has four adults and 75 babies. In the wild, they are subject to many documentaries such as "Heffalump Newts: Slimey Giants" and the Oscar winning " March of the Heffalump Newts". Many hunters like to make coats out of there hides, despite the law against harming these creatures. The penalty is two years in federal prison
