Another Newt Eft for ID

[Newhythebirder]

Not sure if it is possible to ID this newt eft. Underside was completely unmarked....Smooth?

[yellowhammer]

Impossible to say Steve, sorry. At that size Smooth & Palmate are nigh on identical.

[lipase]

alreet Newhythebirder?
you find out how to identify that newt eft in the end?
I've hear that palmate newt babies have a sort of hair like filament at the end of their tails and have a different colour belly as tadpoles but unless I could compare a smooth newt baby and a palmate I don't think I'd be able to tell the difference yet. I've only got one species I think in my pond I'm also trying to figure out what species they are, here's a couple of pics



As tadpoles they seem to have pink bellies
You got any ideas?

Jack

[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?

[Mark_b]

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

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