Red-Spotted Newt

A type of salamander that's prevalent throughout the eastern U.S., the red-spotted newt begins its life as an aquatic larva, moves to dry land where it turns a bright red-orange, then morphs into a yellowish-green adult that lives in the water.  

Most visible in the terrestrial stage when it's also called an eft, this three- to six-inch-long amphibian lives on small insects and earthworms. In water its toxic skin secretions keep it safe from fish, which eat other salamanders.