Newt
Newts, as with salamanders in general and other amphibians, serve as bioindicators because of their thin, sensitive skin and evidence of their presence (or absence) can serve as an indicator of the health of the environment. Most species are highly sensitive to subtle changes in the pH level of the streams and lakes where they live. Because their skin is permeable to water, they absorb oxygen and other substances they need through their skin. Scientists study the stability of the amphibian population when studying the water quality of a particular body of water.
Newt
Dialectal English and Scots also has the word "ask" (also "awsk, esk" in Scots) used for both newts and wall lizards, from Old English "āþexe", from Proto-Germanic "*agiþahsijǭ", literally "lizard-badger" or "distaff-like lizard" (compare German "Eidechse" and "Echse", both "lizard"; "*agi-" is ultimately cognate with Greek ὄφις "snake", from Proto-Indo-European "*h₁ogʷʰis"). Latin had the name "stellio" for a type of spotted newt, now used for species of the genus "Stellagama". Ancient Greek had the name κορδύλος, presumably for the water newt (immature newt, eft). German has "Molch", from Middle High German "mol", ":wikt:olm", like the English term of unknown etymology.