![]() Smooth Newts spend the winter sheltering under rocks, in compost heaps or buried down in mud occasionally they will overwinter in ponds. ![]() Later in the summer and in autumn, newts can be found sheltering under wood, rocks and paving-slabs, in between feeding up on slugs and insects in time for winter. Adults may still be in or around ponds hunting for food. When the larvae have absorbed their gills, they leave the water as newtlets (or efts). At this time of year adult newts spend quite a lot of time in the water and will hunt frog tadpoles. A couple of months after they hatch the larvae start to grow their front legs (again, different from frogs and toads), followed by the back legs. The larvae have feathery gills around the head, distinguishing them from frog and toad tadpoles. Depending on local weather conditions, two to four weeks later larvae (sometimes called newt tadpoles) will hatch out. Individual eggs are laid and wrapped up in the leaves of pond plants. Males perform an elaborate courtship dance before the eggs are laid. Threatened by loss of habitat and reduced habitat connectivity.Īdult newts emerge from their overwintering sites in early spring and head to a pond to breed. Larvae eaten by water beetles, dragonfly nymphs, fish and adult newts. Predators include fish, Grass Snakes, ducks and kingfishers. Larvae reach 30 – 40mm before metamorphosis. Light beige or brown, sometimes with fine black speckling. Very difficult to distinguish Smooth Newt larvae (tadpoles) from Palmate Newt larvae. Eggs deposited individually on leaves of aquatic plants. Greyish-brown or dirty white eggs surrounded by a transparent jelly capsule that is about 3 mm across. ![]() Very difficult to distinguish Smooth Newt eggs from Palmate Newt eggs. Found throughout south and central Europe. Common and widespread throughout the UK including Ireland: the UK’s most widespread newt species. Belly yellow or orange, usually with black spots and/or blotches. Males develop a wavy crest along the back during the breeding season. IdentificationĪdults up to 10 cm in length. Like Common Frogs they are usually quite quick to colonise garden ponds. On land, their skin takes on a velvety appearance and they are sometimes mistaken for lizards. Smooth Newts cannot tolerate as dry conditions as Palmate Newts. Smooth Newts look very similar to Palmate Newts but are more widespread they’re found throughout Britain and Ireland.
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