Newt identification

[Billabong Karen]

Can anyone tell me what these weird colored newts are? Photos were taken in the spring. I know the torchlight makes them look bluer than they really are, but they are still pretty stunning! I think the green one is a palmate newt?

[Matt Smith]

The first three appear to be female Alpine Newts, the last one is probably a female Palmate Newt.

[Billabong Karen]

That's so exciting! I THOUGHT they were Alpine newts, but wasnt completely sure, and of course had never seen them in the UK... Anyway, there are lots of baby newts in the pond now, so hopefully there will be even more next spring!

[GCN lova]

I agree with the alpines but that 'palmate' newt could be a smooth newt because unless you see their throats they are very hard t identify from each other (but definitely a female).

[Billabong Karen]

I didnt want to disturb them too much, so apart from the one photo with the newt in my hand I didnt get any out of the pond, so never got a look at their throats. They look jolly fat to me - is that because they were carrying eggs, or because they had been snacking on tadpoles, do you think?

[GCN lova]

because they seem to be all females they were probably pregnant. i was ponddipping and i caught a really fat one nearlly 2 cm thick!

[Billabong Karen]

The babies seem to be in all different stages of maturity, some quite large ones and some really tiny ones. I also saw an adult palmate (?) newt in there yesterday, but all the others seem to have left. As I understand it, newts leave the pond in the autumn - does this include the newtpoles? Or will they overwinter in the pond?

[GCN lova]

adut newts will be in there all spring and maybe sometimes in the summer for feeding or cooling off. the newt larvae will hatch in late spring to mid summer and normally leave the pond in late summer and autumn though some may overwinter if there is not much food or its too cold to leave etc.

[alfif]

hello everyone

can any one tell me what a smooth newt that has just come out the water eat as i am having some trouble finding something small enogh

thanks to anyone who helps

[N0z]

Lucky guy!, alpine newts are beautifull