Unidentified Newts - can anyone help?

Newhythebirder · #1 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 01:59 PM

Hi....I looked under a piece of old plywood today on my patch and found 20+ Newts. I think they are all Smooth Newt but there were two variations. Most were the sandy coloured but there were 2 of the greener form. Can anyone help?

diggleken · #2 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 04:51 PM

Steve,
these look like smooth or common newt.
But from a top view they can easily be confused with Palmate newts - the palmate males have a clear palm on the hind legs, but only in breeding season - the best feature to distinguish is the underside of the throat, which continues from the chest/underbelly yellow as yellow or white in commons, but is just greenish/flesh coloured in palmates and is not continuous from the underbelly area. The amount and type of dotting can aloso help, as can the tail extremity, which in palmates is a little thready structure.
Palmates are also more in upland areas, and to an extent, commons are more lower level, though there is considerable mixing!
Sorry to go on, hope this helps a little.
Take care with great crested, they are very protected, handling and disturbance is a no no etc etc.
Fascinating creatures! Love them.
Ken

Newhythebirder · #3 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 05:59 PM

Thanks Ken...much appreciated. I knew they weren't GC Newts and wouldn't have disturbed them....

Gill Catton · #4 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 06:29 PM

I agree with diggleken,

I'd also suggest that you put them back somewhere sheltered and frost free as they may struggle to get themselves to such a place under their own steam in the autumn/winter weather being cold blooded.

Newhythebirder · #5 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 07:02 PM

Hi Gill....I haven't moved them and I am loathe to....do you really think I should? I photographed them where they were..

Apreciate any advice

Steve

Gill Catton · #6 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newhythebirder

Hi Gill....I haven't moved them and I am loathe to....do you really think I should? I photographed them where they were..

Apreciate any advice

Steve

Oh no that's the ideal, I'd expect that by now given the cold snap that theyhave already got themselves to a preferred hibernation spot. I thought you had had to move the wood or something, my mistake.

Dogghound · #7 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 08:32 PM

Yes these are definately Smooth newts, and its very important you leave them and try to avoid any further disturbance to them whilst they hibernate, it can have a very negative impact on them.

Newhythebirder · #8 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 08:55 PM

Sure...thanks. I will leave them be now. Just lifted the wood by chance today. Thanks to everyone for their help.

Steve

Chingachgook · #9 (**permalink**) 15-10-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newhythebirder

Hi....I looked under a piece of old plywood today on my patch and found 20+ Newts. I think they are all Smooth Newt but there were two variations. Most were the sandy coloured but there were 2 of the greener form. Can anyone help?