Quote:
Originally Posted by lipase  I've hear that palmate newt babies have a sort of hair like filament at the end of their tails |
Hey, only
adult male palmate newts during the
breeding season have a tail filament
Quote:
Originally Posted by lipase Ok I've just looked at a full size newt I accidentally caught and it's unspotted on the underside of the neck; presumable meaning it's a palmate newt? |
It is most likely a palmate, as you are correct in thinking that most smoothes have spots on their necks, but not all.
Palmates have a spotless pinkish neck, smoothes have an off-white neck normally dark spotted
Palmates bellies are dullish yellow, smoothes bellies are buff coloured with an orange or yellow streak and dark spots
They are only a few basic methods for telling the difference between
adult palmates and smoothes during the whole year, there are many other features as well….
I posted the below in another thread, but it applies here as well
There are so many elements to correct identification without better pictures or seeing the animal in person it is very difficult. Many people pick up little tips like smoothes having an orange stripe on their bellies and palmates having a tiny filament at the end of the tail, but some of these features are only found in adults, only in either males or females and at the correct time of year.
So if you are going to take a picture of any animal for identification take a picture from every angle and close up shots as well
I would advise this book …
Britain's Reptiles and Amphibians by Howard Inns
Britain's Reptiles and Amphibians