Mating eastern spotteds in NH

[Bill]

I'm visiting in central New Hampshire and checked out a local pond. There were eastern spotted newts in mating posture. I was curious b/c of the time of year. Seems like it is late for newts to be laying eggs. Any insights?

 

[distefan]

This off-season mating is not unknown. Presuming successful mating, egg deposition will be delayed until spring.

See this article from the Bulletin of the Chicago Herp. Society [41(8):149-153, 2006] by David Sever:
"The “False Breeding Season” of the Eastern Newt, Notophthalmus viridescens"
http://www2.selu.edu/Academics/Faculty/dsever/Sever_chs.pdf

DDiS