1.
newt
A small amphibian with a lizard-like body that lives partly in water, most commonly the Japanese fire belly newt (赤腹イモリ), known for its bright red-orange belly.
イモリ refers to newts, small amphibians that spend much of their life in water but can also move on land.
Similar words
- 山椒魚: salamander — larger, lacks the newt's bright warning coloration
- ヤモリ: house gecko — a reptile, not an amphibian, despite the similar-sounding name
- トカゲ: lizard — also a reptile, with dry scaly skin unlike イモリ's moist skin
Watch out
イモリ (newt, amphibian) and ヤモリ (gecko, reptile) differ by only one sound but are unrelated animals — a common trap for learners.