Newts Fighting

 

Newts Fighting

Watching Eastern newts is very relaxing.

Newts look a bit clumsy and often funny as they move slowly around observing the surroundings.

 The attack may come from any directions.

Just like that.

Newt's clumsiness is very deceptive. 

Instantaneous attack!

And all set and ready for then next move.

Here you can see a newt is intimidating an opponent by making threatening body movements.

The opponent retreated.

In my observations the intimidation movements work most of the time.

This time the opponent retreated without much of hurry.

Notice how far the opponent has to move away before the other newt stopped showing off.

Male newts don't get intimidated easily during mating season.

The real fights often happens without any warnings.

Often it's just a grab and release to show off the dominance position.

It's also a practice of the same wrestling skills and techniques newt males need for successful mating.

Newts use their very powerful rear legs and their tails for holding opponents.

Notice how the tail will wrap around the opponent to secure it from escaping.

Newts have a pro-level wrestling skills.

And newts know to be patient taking their time for achieving desirable results.

The end goal of a serious fight is to fully immobilize the opponent.

Newts use rear legs for holding opponents in the same way as they do it for mating - it is called amplexus.

Basically it is a deadlock.

Newts fighting matches go on average for 5-20 minutes, just like their mating.

 The fully immobilized opponent looks like it's dead even for some time after it's been released.

I thought that one of my newts was actually dead after the fight when I saw it for the first time.

That is how it looks like.

And both newts are ready for the next round!

I actually don't recall seen continuous fights between the same opponents.

Even when they show readiness to fight after quick recovery as in this example.

Yeah, this fight is over...for now.

The real fights between newts are very violent.

Plants and even rocks get moved by newts powerful body movements.

I had to remove all rocks with sharp edges from my aquarium just to keep newts safe.

Have fun and happy newts :)