Unidentified Lizard thing!

[lizardmad09]

Can anyone offer any ideas as to what this is? we found him in our utility room, is he a newt? or something else? x

Also - what do they eat? should we feed him anything or put him in the back yard?

[Dogghound]

Its a newt most likely a smooth newt, But there are certain characters that carnt be seen in these photos to distinguish it from a palmate newt. i.e a view of its underside, throat, hind feet or face (close ups).

[lizardmad09]

he has an orange under belly no spots or any other colouration x

[Dogghound]

The sounds of the belly and the two lines on the back suggest palmate newt. Smooth newts usually have spots on the underside.

[lizardmad09]

Oo thankyou where shud we release him? X

[Dogghound]

Or Her . Near a pond in dense undergrowth Or as close to a pond as you can in dense undergrowth. The dense undergrowth is the key here.

[Jonners]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

The sounds of the belly and the two lines on the back suggest palmate newt. Smooth newts usually have spots on the underside.

Is that the case even with young ones, which this one looks like?

[Dogghound]

Yes the Efts exhibit adult colouration, The lines and spots are nothing to do with sexual maturity. But it is hard to ID efts from photos much easier to view the face close up when the depressions in front of the eyes are clear in all ages and you can tell between the two species.