newt
Triturus spp
Facts
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As amphibians, newts mostly live on land but return to the water to breed
There are 3 species of newt in the UK:
- smooth newt
about 10cm long
palmate newt
about 10cm long
- great crested newt
about 16cm long
The males of the smooth and great crested have a jagged crest on their backs, during the breeding season, and orange spotted underside.
Look out for them coming to the surface for air.
Where found
Ponds and lakes, ditches and slow moving streams.
When to look for
- Typically they return to the water in about February-March but can be as early as December
Fabulous newt facts
- After courtship, newts lay their fertilised eggs singly, rather than in clumps (like frogs) or strings (like toads), and attach them to aquatic plants
- The tadpoles look like tiny fish, but have feathery external gills
- They feed on algae, small invertebrates and other tadpoles
- Newts metamorphose through three distinct life stages:
Aquatic larva
Terrestrial juvenile (called an 'eft')
Adult
- They have an amazing ability - to regenerate their eyes, limbs, spinal cords, hearts, intestines and upper and lower jaws
- Newts can be found in North America, Europe and Asia