Dessicated Lizard/Newt

[mbaldw]

Hi folks,

earlier this month, my parents had a new patio layed and upon going out to clean it up they found two small dessicated reptiles or amphibians (photos below). Any idea what they might be? Neither they nor the neighbours on either side have a pond (if they're newts), but they have found frogs living in the bank at the back. They live bordering farmland near Launceston in Cornwall.

Cheers,
Marc.

[caladina]

Newts do travel along way away from water when in that phase

sad to see'm like that

[naturegirl]

First couple of pictures look like 'Great Crested Newts' to me, SO sad.....

Naturegirl

[aeshna5]

A few years ago while having a local walk my partner pointed something out to me up a stem of Bristly Ox-tongue. When I looked closely at it - it was a desiccated Smooth Newt that unfortunately become impaled on the bristles; though why it was trying to climb up it I don't know?

[Hedge Witch]

This desiccation effect was a problem for another member and his froglets:

Froglet hari-kari!!!

As a child, I would always find smooth newts in the long grass right next to the wall of our house (when you were being made to do the weeding as a chore, the thrill of finding them made the job seem MUCH easier ). I don't know what attracts them to these areas.

I would suggest checking that the area all round the edge of the patio is unattractive to newts - a short buffer zone of gravel or something? Certainly no long grass. Try to prevent them being tempted to get close to the killer patio in the first place.

I cannot say what species these are.

Good luck.

[mbaldw]

Thanks very much for the info folks. You're right that it's sad to see the newts like this - especially since I've never found a live great crested newt I will pass on the info about the buffer zone to my parents, although as far as I can recall, there's no long grass near the patio.

Thanks again.
Cheers,
Marc.