A newt?

[Digifrog]

Hello Wabbers

I think I have a small newt in my pond. A nice neighbour for the frogs. But I'm a little unsure if it is a newt. Unfortunately I have no pic as yet. I know the common newt is kinda browny in colour with dark blotches on. Mine is about 3 inches long, is light brown in colour and has a thin black line running down its back the full length of its body. It sits, and moves slowly just below the surface and will surface every 5 minutes or so for a bit of air. Is it a common newt? Or is it something different? Thanks for any info.

Scotty

[smartie]

It sounds like a smooth newt, from the description. Unlikely to be anything other than a newt. Any other distinguishing features you can see?

[Digifrog]

Originally Posted by smartie

It sounds like a smooth newt, from the description. Unlikely to be anything other than a newt. Any other distinguishing features you can see?

Thanks smartie. I think it's definately a newt. No other distinguishing features as far as I can tell. Only that it moves in the water, like a cheetah moves in long grass and that it answers to the name Nobby.

[Gue Jam Fowsid]

Hi,

Sounds like the smooth newt to me too (also known as the common newt). The smooth newts have spots on the throat. The other smaller newt is the palmate which doesn't have any spots on its throat and the male of this species can be identified by the small filament at the end of the tail.

Then there are these guys....



The magnificent monsters of the pond!!!

GJF