Newt question

alisonclair · #1 (**permalink**) 26-06-2010, 01:09 PM

Hi there

We found this lovely newt in our pond today. I think he is a Common Newt. Am I right (he has a lovely spotty belly)? The thing is we have other newts too, and they are almost khaki coloured, so wondered if they could be a different species? Not sure though coz' sure I read somewhere that there are only 3 species of newt in the UK.

Can anybody help?

Alison

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 26-06-2010, 03:51 PM

Smooth Newt (the commonest one) for me.

suziet · #3 (**permalink**) 26-06-2010, 04:55 PM

Hi

How lucky are you to have the pleasure of such a find - when I was young Newts were everyone - sadly I don't see many now - I just love Newts - Toads & Frogs -

I have been told there are some Great Crested Newts in our new Nature Reserve - I just hope I see one -

Super pic

faz · #4 (**permalink**) 26-06-2010, 04:59 PM

yes smooth newt the other two newts are palmate ,and great crersted

aeshna5 · #5 (**permalink**) 26-06-2010, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faz

yes smooth newt the other two newts are palmate ,and great crersted

There are also some exotic species such as Alpine + Italian Crested Newt in a few locations.

marvin · #6 (**permalink**) 27-06-2010, 12:42 PM

hi

that's a male smooth newt. the other "khaki" ones are probably female smooth newts.

cheers
tim

faz · #7 (**permalink**) 30-06-2010, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeshna5

There are also some exotic species such as Alpine + Italian Crested Newt in a few locations.

did not know that many thanks do u no the locations ?

Cowgirl · #8 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 07:28 PM

Sorry to hijack this thread but have a bit of a problem.

Husband has been de wrapping & getting rid of a load of old manky bales of silage (been there a few years and are all slimy & rotten) & he came across a newt in a bale (they were all full of holes). He brought it home & showed the neighbour (ex gamekeeper) who said it was a GCN, aargh! He's now put it in my wildlife pond. I told him it was illegal to move them but he said he had no choice as the area is now cleared of old bales, there are no ponds nearby & there was only a load of effluent & I presume areas where rainwater gathers (otherwise how else would it survive?)

I haven't seen it, might try & catch it tomorrow to take photo for positive id. He said it was quite large, had a crest & was a gorgeous orange & black colour, but I'm sure I read somewhere that GCN's don't necessarily have to have a crest?

What do you think? It was done with the best intentions in mind. I could take it back but I don't want to condemn it if it's habitat is now destroyed, nobody would think that the habitat it was found in, or it could survive in silage effluent!

It's had an exciting day, apparently on the journey home it escaped, so hubby drove back to the farm & him & the boss had to practically dismantle the Landrover to find it again

!

Gill Catton · #9 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 08:37 PM

How far is the wildlife pond from where it was? Newts are largely terrestrial and can travel quite some distance (most usually 500m but can be up to 2km

) from a breeding site, a breeding site might be a proper pond but it equally could be a wet ditch or a leaf filled stinking silted up pond at some distance from the bales.

If he comes across any more I suggest he puts them into the nearest dampest shadyest hedge/ ditch he can find and the newt will then move itself off to a preferred place. if you can catch it easily then perhaps take it back but if you're not that afr you may already have them anyway!

GCNS are big, much bigger than other newts and are a bit warty in texture, females have no crests but are still big and warty. You could go for a look with a torch rather than trying to catch it again. From your description it sounds like a GCN!

Cowgirl · #10 (**permalink**) 07-07-2010, 11:22 AM

Hi Gill, thank you so much for replying. Our house & pond is about 3 miles away from the farm, we have newts in the big koi pond but are fairly small & smooth, so presume they are common/smooth types. Spoke to hubby & he said it was huge & all warty, so defo for GCN male. He also said there is a marshy/stream bit about 500m from the bales so if I can catch him, (how do you catch a newt anyway? Wildlife pond isn't that big or deep, but full of plants & weed) I'll take him back. Huh, never knew newts would live away from a pond, you learn something everyday.

He wouldn't have started trekking back would he?