Identification of Newts (Urodeles) in the UK Three native species one sp. highly protected Two...
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Transcript of Identification of Newts (Urodeles) in the UK Three native species one sp. highly protected Two...
Identification of Newts(Urodeles) in the UK
• Three native species
one sp. highly protected
• Two introduced species
well-established
Native Newts
• Smooth newt Lissotriton vulgaris• Palmate newt Lissotriton helveticus• Great crested newt Triturus cristatus• …also eggs and larvae
Alien Newts
• Alpine newt Mesotriton alpestris• Italian crested newt Triturus carniflex• Other aliens only rare escapes
Report aliens at www.alienencounters.org.uk
Smaller Newts (MALES): Smooth Newt
Smaller Newts (MALES): Palmate Newt
Male does not develop crest – but rather a low ridge running along the back
Tail filament
Wide black webbing on hind feet
Smaller Newts (MALES): Palmate Newt
Male smooth newts in peak condition can develop skin
flaps around hind toes –never as wide as a
palmate’s
<Male palmate
Smaller Newts (MALES): comparing feet
Palmate
Smooth
Smaller Newts (FEMALES): comparing
Can look very similar!
Smooth Smooth Palmate
Smaller Newts (FEMALES): comparing
Underside of foot of female palmate newt
Two pale tubercles/nodules
Male
Female
Great Crested Newt: adultsLarger than smooth newt (up to 16 cm)Male has break in crest at tail base and silver/white stripe
Great Crested Newt
Female Great Crested Newt
Adult Newt Identification Description Triturus
cristatusLissotriton vulgaris
Lissotriton
helveticus
Size (snout to tail)
LARGEST!
Up to 16cm
Up to 10cm Up to 9cm (often smaller)
Colouring of dorsal side
Almost black, granular appearance
Brown Brown
Crest on male Jagged crest along the back, this dips at the rear of the abdomen with a second crest along the tail
Continuous wavy crest along body and tail
Very low continuous crest
Description Triturus cristatus Lissotriton vulgaris
Lissotriton
helveticus
Belly colour Orange/yellow belly with irregular pattern of black dots
Orange belly,
roundish black spots
Yellowish, sometimes has a few black spots
Throat Speckling on throat Speckled, whitish throat
Plain pink or yellow
Feet Toes have yellow rings (striped appearance)
In the breeding season, fringes of skin develop on the toes of the hind feet in males.
Webbed hind feet almost black
(like black gloves)
Most immature newts remain in terrestrial habitat but some great crested newts enter the water before reaching adult size
Great Crested Newt: immatures
Terrestrial Newts
Terrestrial Newts
Newt Eggs
Egg-laying occurs from March-May (and beyond)
Newt Eggs
Unwrap to identify
Great crested newt
Smooth/palmate newt
Egg Identification
Feature T. cristatus L. vulgaris L. helveticus
Colour Yellowish white
Brownish grey/off grey
Size Length
c. 4.5 mm
Smaller than GCN
c. 3mm
Egg Shape Oval Rounder than GCN
NB: Newly laid eggs (inside the jelly), will be round for all the species.
Newt Eggs: developing
Newt eggs are harder to identify when larvae developing
Newt Larvae
During the early developmental stages, newt larvae can be difficult to differentiate
Newly-hatched great crested newt larva
Newt Larvae
Great crested newt
Smooth newt
Larvae Identification
Characteristic T. cristatus L .vulgaris & L . helveticus
Gills Often curving forwards & outwards
Straight to slightly incurved
Tail ‘fins’ White border
Numerous black blotches
No white border
Sometimes fine black speckling
Tail Tapers, filament at the tip
Tapers, no filament
Larvae Identification
Characteristic T. cristatus L .vulgaris & L . helveticus
Fingers Long, thin fingers No obvious long fingers
Eye Golden Iris
Alien Newts: the Alpine Newt
Female
Male
Photographs
• Photographs used in this presentation are by Ben Driver, Chris Gleed-Owen, Fred Holmes, Phyl King, John Robinson, Will Watson and John Wilkinson
• Copyright of all photographs remains with the photographers and ARC.
• These photographs should not be used for purposes other than NARRS training without the permission of the photographers.