Tamika Kohlman, age 10, of Carson City, Nev., for her question:

HOW IS A NEWT BORN?

A newt is a type of salamander. Along with frogs and caecilians, newts are classified as amphibians. They hatch from eggs that are laid singly in the spring on the leaves of underwater plants.

The young newts hatch after three to five weeks. They live in the water and breathe by means of gills.

In time, the newts develop lungs and may take to the land. Many people call them elves. The elves stay on land up to three years before they return to water to breed. At this time they often shed their skins.

The kind of newt best known in the United States is the red spotted newt. It is about 4 inches long.

Newts eat insects, worms and mollusks.