Defense Mechanisms of the Spanish Ribbed Newt

By Stephanie Hoelker





Certain newts can attack a predator in a way that brings to mind the character Wolverine from X-Men. The Spanish ribbed newt, Pleurodeles waltl, gets its name from an unusual defense mechanism that allows the newt to actively force its ribs out through its back. The development of this anti-predatory action is not completely unique, as the Anderson's Crocodile Newt (Echinotriton andersoni) in a closely-related genus displays the same mechanism on a lesser scale. In a study published in 2009, Egon Heiss and colleagues observed and documented the anatomical adaptations that allow rib protrusion in the Spanish ribbed newt. This is a review article summarizing their findings.

Their study consisted of four parts, and each produced interesting results that added to or changed details that were previously known about this tactic. The first part of the experiment was a general observation and recording of the defensive behaviors. The newts did not resort to protruding their ribs immediately, as the first natural defense was to squirm and try to escape. As the second mode of defense, the newts secreted a slightly toxic discharge from the neck and the sides of the body. The toxin is merely irritating to humans, but can kill a mouse. Many species of newts produce secretions that make their skin slippery, distasteful, or sticky. The toxicity of some newts' skin secretions is well-documented (see Newt Toxin article).





The ribbed newt's last resort then becomes the rib protrusion defense. The observations showed that the newts could protrude their ribs with their body in either a flattened or arched position; the arched position is shown in the image. The ribs become slightly exposed, breaking the skin. Each rib protrudes out through the center of an orange bump, often referred to as a "wart" or "tubercle". These warts are present in two parallel lines running along the newts' backs, with eight to ten warts per row. The warts were freshly pierced open each time the newts exposed their ribs.

In the second part of the experiment, two newts had X-rays taken in both a relaxed state and in the defense posture. The images were used to measure the angles at which the ribs moved, using the end of the rib and the middle of the vertebra as reference points. In a relaxed position, the ends of the ribs were closer to the middle of the body, and the vertebral column had curvature. Upon stimulation, the ribs moved forward and outward, and the vertebral column straightened along the center axis of the animal. During this maneuver, the newt may or may not arch its back upward. Each individual responded differently, as each had a different stress limit, but each newt was consistent with itself among trials. In the past, it was thought that the ribs protruded due to bending of the body, but this study showed that the newt uses its back muscles to force the ribs out.





The third part of the study employed CAT scan visualization of one male newt. This provided a 3D image used to analyze the detailed morphology of the ribs and vertebrae. The connection of the ribs to the vertebrae was found to be typical of most newts. The ribs are connected by two joints, allowing movement back and forth, but not up and down. These joints consist of two heads on the inner end of the rib connected to two extensions coming off the vertebra. The shape of the ribs are like a sideways "s", where going from the vertebra out to the sides of the body the rib curves somewhat upward, then back downward, and yet again to an upward point. This analysis showed nothing completely unique about the rib-vertebrae connection as many animals need flexibility in their ribs. Yet the Spanish newt relies upon this flexibility and movement to perform its defense behavior.

The last experiment was the examination of a histological specimen (a thin slice of the animal's tissue for viewing under a microscope). This experiment showed the rib actually protruding out of the body, proving that it punctures the skin. The end of the rib has a thick outer bone layer, which presumably helps it to puncture the skin, while the interior of the bone near the vertebra is fatty, probably an adaptation so that the bone doesn't fracture or break during protrusion. You may wonder why the newt is not hurt by its own toxin once the ribs penetrate the skin. The newt is actually immune to its own toxin, and in addition, it releases antimicrobials the help prevent infection after puncturing itself.

For more detailed information refer to the article:

Heiss, E., N. Natchev, D. Salaberger, M. Gumpenberger, A. Rabanser & J.Weisgram (2009): Hurt yourself to hurt your enemy: new insights on the function of the bizarre antipredator mechanism in the salamandrid Pleurodeles waltl (Michahelles, 1830). Journal of Zoology (2009), 1-7.

© 2009 Stephanie Hoelker.