The eastern newt produces tetrodotoxin, which makes the species unpalatable to predatory fish and crayfish.

It is common for the peninsula newt (N. v. piaropicola) to be neotenic, with a larva transforming directly into a sexually mature aquatic adult, never losing its external gills.

Habitat preferences include shallow water, quiet stretches of streams, swamps or ditches, lakes and ponds with heavy submerged vegetation.

Eastern newts eat a variety of prey, such as insects, springtails, soil mites, small mollusks and crustaceans, young amphibians, worms, and frog eggs.

[16] They also eat a lot of snails, beetles, ants, and mosquito larvae, with an annual ingestion of about 35,000 kcal.

[17][18] Their dietary habits prove to be beneficial to humans because they help to control insect populations and maintain balance to their habitats.

Eastern newts have a number of natural predators, including fish, snakes, birds, and larger salamanders.

[19] In fact, eastern newts are considered a sensitive species, meaning that they are often used as indicators of ecosystem health.

[20] Eastern newts are ectothermic, relying on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature.

Eastern Newts have showcased a resistance to a wide variety of temperatures, altering their body chemistry and being able to survive and breed even under ice in winter conditions.

[21] During the winter months, some eastern newts will often burrow underground or seek shelter in logs or other debris to avoid the cold.

[27] The male's spots attract females, luring them to him with fanning motions of his tail, causing a pheromone to be released.

This social hierarchy is thought to be related to the distribution of resources, with dominant individuals having access to more food and better mating opportunities.

This behavior is commonly seen in males during the breeding season, when they will defend a territory in order to attract females and ensure access to mating opportunities.

[32] However, one study observed a Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) beat an eastern newt on a nest box 15 times before eating it.

Several studies have found that newt larvae increase the production of this toxin while in the presence of predators (dragonflies).

[35] The Eastern newt also has a greater tail depth and is capable of swimming quickly away from aquatic predators.

This ability is thought to be related to their high levels of stem cells, which allow them to repair and regenerate damaged tissues.

[41] For example, a study found the toxicity of coal-tar pavement on eastern newts sublethal, decreasing their righting ability and swimming speed.