Notophthalmus meridionalis, the black-spotted newt or Texas newt, is a species of aquatic newt native to northeastern Mexico and southern Texas in the United States. This amphibian was put on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species in 2008 with populations still decreasing. It was reclassified to Vulnerable in 2022. Description The black-spotted newt (Notophthalmus meridionalus) is the largest extant member of the Notophthalmus genus. It has a snout-to-vent length of 42–57 mm in adults, with females being the larger sex. The black-spotted newt grows to long and is typically an olive green in color with numerous black spots. The underside is often yellow in color, which can sometimes extend up to the sides. These light markings tend to condense into larger spots that accumulate on the sides of the amphibian that eventually blend into a broken line extending from the base of the head to the end of the tail. The underside is often yellow in color, which can sometimes extend up to the sides. Sometimes the appearance of this newt will have a stripe down the back, pale brown or russet in color. The sides are blue-green and are noticeably lighter than the back; frequently there will be a white exhibited on the lower sides. The venter of the black-spotted newt is yellow to orange. They have smooth skin, and a paddle-shaped, vertically flattened tail. The black-spotted newt (Notophthalmus meridionalis) has a lighter dorsum color than the Mexican newt (Notophthalmus kallerti). The larvae of the black-spotted newt are generally gray-brown and have a dark midventral stripe. They are also patterned with small, light-colored spots forming lateral or ventrolateral rows. Habitat Black-spotted newts prefer shallow-water habitats, heavy with vegetation. However, this type of habitat uncommonly occurs in the northern part of the specie’s range. Otherwise, the black-spotted newt can be found among vegetation that is submerged in water. During the dry season, they are believed to burrow underground or remain under debris. Usually the black-spotted newt will burrow less than two meters deep within these saturated and vegetated areas. Since black-spotted newts prefer shallow-water habitats, heavy with vegetation; during the dry season, they are believed to burrow underground or remain under debris. When water dries up, they can be found under rocks and other structures. However, individuals are not believed to make it very far if forced to leave their habitats if the water completely dries up. Behavior The