Palmate Newt?

[GuyF]

Hi everyone,
I'd always thought that I had Smooth Newts in the garden, and I have definetely seen a male Smooth Newt atleast once. But today while I was looking in the pond I found this little fellow. I think that Palmate Newts are the only newts with webbed feet? And although it doesn't really show in the photo this newt had both back feet webbed. Also there is no sign of a crest and the patterning is different to a Smooth Newt. Is this a male Palmate?


Thanks for your help,
Guy

[vinnychameleon]

yup id say that was a palmate newt .

[yellowhammer]

Could well be, check for a filament a few millimetres long on the end of the tip of the tail.

[wyevilla]

Male palmate alright. Now the tricky bit is to ID female palmates

[GuyF]

Thanks for the id Vinny, Yellowhammer and Wyevilla,
I'm really pleased because I never knew I had Palmates in the garden. Also I'm surprised by how attractive it is because I always thought Palmates were dull brown newts, I'd never seen a male in breeding colours. Today is the first time this year I've see newts in the pond, there were atleast 3 including one female which looked pregnant. Now I'm not sure which species I was finding the eggs of last year, because I don't think I've ever seen a Smooth Newt actually in the pond, just around it. I will try and have a closer look at the newts in a minute, this male was staying very close to a female, so she has to be a likely candidate for a female Palmate.
Thanks again
Guy