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NEWTS
There are three species of newt in Britain:
the Great Crested Newt (
Triturus cristatus
),
the Smooth Newt (
Lissotriton vulgaris
) and
the Palmate Newt (
Lissotriton helveticus
).
Over the last 100 years Great Crested
Newts have disappeared from many sites
across Britain and Europe, mainly as a
result of pond loss and intensive agriculture,
and they are now strictly protected under
British and European law. Smooth newts are
more common, and this is the species you
are most likely to encounter in your garden
pond. Palmate Newts are less frequently
seen, because they prefer shallow ponds,
on acid rich heathlands and woodlands.
However, if you live near this type of
habitat, then it is worth taking a second
look, as you may be lucky enough to
spot one.
Growing up to 15 cm in length, Great
Crested Newts are the heavy weights of the
newt world. They are dark brown or black
in colour, with a ‘warty’ skin, and a bright
orange underside with contrasting black
blotches. In the spring, males develop an
impressive jagged crest along their back,
and a flashy white stripe along the tail.
The smaller Smooth Newt is light beige
to olive brown in colour, with a yellow/
orange belly speckled with small black
spots (in both sexes). The males develop
a continuous wavy crest along their back
and on the top and bottom of their tail,
during in the breeding season.
The Palmate Newt looks very similar to
the smooth newt. The key differences are
that they are slightly smaller, and lack the
distinctive black throat spots. The male also
has a long, bare filament at the end of his
tail, and black webbing on his back toes.
Common Frog © Paul Lacey
Common Toad © Lorna Bousfield
Pal
mate Newt
© David Orchard