Please ID this newt!?

[kevinb]

Looks like a female Alpine newt to me

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by kevinb

Looks like a female Alpine newt to me

They are not native and look more colourful than this one.

This one looks like a pregnant smooth newt to me.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

They are not native and look more colourful than this one.

This one looks like a pregnant smooth newt to me.

Alpine Newts may not be native but there are quite a few established populations of this species in this country though they haven't spread much.

[kevinb]

I am aware that Alpine newts are not native but that does not stop it being one, it looks exactly like an Alpine newt in land phase, the rough skin is a dead give away.A quick look at Alpine photos on Euroherp confirmed my original thought.

[Fauna]

Originally Posted by kevinb

I am aware that Alpine newts are not native but that does not stop it being one, it looks exactly like an Alpine newt in land phase, the rough skin is a dead give away.A quick look at Alpine photos on Euroherp confirmed my original thought.

My original thoughts when i first saw the photo where possible Apline newt, but i'm not really confident with newts from photos...especially the females.

Regards Chris...

[dampflippers]

On the tail you can see some loose garanules like sand or dust. I think that's why it looks rough skinned.
The OP said he had more photos- maybe these would help.

[Ben Rigsby]

hi folks.


i think it most probaley be a sand lizard not a newt.
cos (like matt said) its still got dirt and sand stuck to it. which proves it came out of a sandcastle burrow.
ive never heard of sand NEWTS
plus its basking on a rock and newts dont bask.
SAND LIZARD (Agilis Lacerta)!!




but seriously,

as matt observed, its a rather tricky pic of a dirty, dusty fem
all agreed on the sex at least yeah?
so i understand the wide range of opinions on sp.

fem cresteds are shinier and more tuberculous. even on land. and generally look more "heavyweight". and not just because theyre bigger - its a different body shape overall.

i dont know all the subsp of Alpestris well i admit so cant entirely rule kevs thoughts out but the ones ive seen still have the "mottling" characteristic of the male, albeit fainter (even when terrestrial) and short tails compared to cristatus and vulgaris.

so im joining the fem smooth newt camp

cheers all,

ben