Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

As orientated as a newt

    Nature (2001)Cite this article

    Newts may use the Earth's magnetic field as a map.

    Wandering newts know where they are by sensing variations in the Earth's magnetic field, suggests new research1. Whether animals use magnetic maps has long been controversial - evidence that they do is "groundbreaking", claim the study's authors.

    This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

    Access options

    Rent or buy this article

    Get just this article for as long as you need it

    $39.95

    Learn more

    Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

    References

    1. Fischer, J. H., Freake, M. J., Borland, S. C. & Phillips, J. B. Evidence for the use of magnetic map information by an amphibian. Animal Behaviour 62, 1 - 10 (2001).

      Article  Google Scholar 

    Download references

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and Permissions

    About this article

    Cite this article

    As orientated as a newt. Nature (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/news010816-7

    Download citation

    • Published:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/news010816-7

    Search

    Advanced search

    Quick links

    Nature Briefing

    Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

    Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing