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Garden Amphibian Survey |
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Smooth newt |
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The smooth, or common, newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) has been very successful in adapting to the garden environment and extraordinarily large numbers can build up, even in quite small garden ponds. However, newts are much less conspicuous than, for example, frogs, and so may be overlooked. The best way to find out if you have newts in your pond (assuming that the pond water is reasonably clear!) is to visit the pond after dark and carry out an inspection by torchlight. The best time to do this is during the newts' breeding season, roughly, from April to May. Wait until a warm evening and carry out the torchlight search just after dusk. You might be surprised at what you find. Look for males in breeding dress to find out what kind of newts you have. Smooth newts are sometimes confused with great crested newts, as males of both species have crests and orange bellies with black spots. However, the great crested newt is much larger. The easiest way to distinguish the newt species, in the pond, is to focus on males. The breeding dress of males provides useful identification features. |
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| Smooth newt | Palmate newt | Great crested newt | |||
| Size | Up to 10 cm |
Up to 9 cm | Up to 16 cm | ||
| Crest in breeding male | From head to tail tip, undulating border. |
Ridge running along back - not really a crest. | Usually an irregular, jagged edge. Distinct break in crest at base of tail. | ||
| Skin | Smooth, in water; velvety appearance on land. |
As for smooth newt. | Rough, granular. Looks moist even when on land. | ||
| Hind feet | Flaps of skin edge the toes, but only in peak breeding condition. |
Webbed, dark, almost black. | Yellow and black bands on toes. No webbing or skin flaps. | ||
When smooth newts are not breeding in the pond, they are sometimes found on land within the garden. By day they hide away, in damp places. So, they are sometimes discovered under rockery stones, paving slabs, or even in the soil, during gardening activities. When on land adult smooth newts look quite different to when they are in the pond. The male's crest disappears and the skin takes on a dry, velvety looking appearance. Sometimes newts discovered on land are mistaken for lizards. However, lizards (much less frequent garden visitors), are fast-moving animals, in comparison to newts. Lizards have five toes on their front feet, small claws on their toes and scaly skins. Newts have only four toes on their front feet, no claws, and soft skin, with no scales. If you can get close enough to inspect these finer points - then it is most likely that you are looking at a newt. |
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| If you've seen a smooth newt in your garden, then please let us know. | |||
| (Photographs courtesy of Fred Holmes and The HCT.) | |||
