Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus)

OTHER NAMES: Northern Crested Newt, Warty Newt

Latin Etymology: Triturus (unclear - possibly "Triton tail") cristatus ("crested")

Two adult Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) at Brigstock, Northants - May 2012

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: 6-10g  /  Length: 15cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Great Crested Newt is the longest Amphibian in Britain and is far bigger than the other two newt species, with the great crest of its name being one of the identifying features. It is threatened and has some of the most visible and widely seen conservation measures of any species in the UK: if you see a plastic fence about a foot high embedded in the ground around an area, particularly one being built on, this is a newt fence which allows newts to be removed and kept out of areas where they might be hurt.

Related Species:
Order: Caudata
Family: Salamandridae
Genus: Triturus
SUBSPECIES: unknown

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Scarce resident

 - Seen on several occasions in Summer at Fermyn Woods

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Palmate Newt (Lissotriton helveticus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Lissotriton (possibly "smooth triton") helveticus ("of Switzerland")

Two adult Palmate Newt (subspecies L. h. helveticus) at Geddington, Northants - July 2012

Featured Subspecies: Lissotriton helveticus helveticus

Weight: ?  /  Length: 10cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

The Palmate newt is Britain's smallest and most difficult to identify amphibian - fairly similar to the more numerous common newt, the identifying features aren't necessarily that obvious unless you are aware of them.  In this case, the large, black and highly webbed rear feet of the male newt.  Despite this, it is fairly widely distributed in the UK (although absent from Ireland) and if you take a look at any smaller newts you find, it should theoretically just be a matter of time.  To confuse matters however, they do apparently share ponds with Common Newts fairly regularly.

Related Species:
Order: Caudata
Family: Salamandridae
Genus: Lissotriton
Subspecies: L. h. helveticus, L. h. punctillatus, L. h. alonsoi

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread resident

 - Seen at Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris)

OTHER NAMES: Common Newt
Latin Etymology: Lissotriton (possibly "smooth triton") vulgaris ("common")

Adult Smooth Newt (subspecies L. v. vulgaris) at Geddington, Northants - April 2011

Featured Subspecies: Lissotriton vulgaris vulgaris
Weight: 1.75-3.5g  /  Length: 10cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern
 
Also known as the common newt, it is indeed the commonest of the three newts found in the United Kingdom. The males in the breeding season have a much more showy look with orange lines, dark spots and a wavy crest, while females, and other newts for the rest of the year appear as above. Newts in general are insectivorous, spend more time in the water than frogs and come onto the land at night to feed, while remaining in water during the day. Related Species:

Order: Caudata 
Family: Salamandridae 
Genus: Lissotriton 
SUBSPECIES: L. v. ampelensis, L. v. graecus, L. v. kosswigi, L. v. lantzi, L. v. meridionalis, L. v. schmidtlerorum, L. v. vulgaris

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread resident

 - Seen at Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

California Newt (Taricha torosa)

OTHER NAMES: Orange-bellied Newt
Latin Etymology: Taricha ("pickled meat") torosa ("muscle")

Larval California Newt (Taricha torosa) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 6-11g  /  Length: 5-8cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

One of the most toxic species in the world is this fairly innocuous species of newt, which is aquires by consumption of bacteria synthesising tetrodotoxin, believed to be an evolutionary arms race with garter snakes, who have developed a resistance to the toxin, with the newts being excessively toxic for most predators. Endemic to California, it is largely found in the coastal parts of the state.

Related Species:
Order: Caudata
Family: Salamandridae
Genus: Triturus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 

Endemic to California, primarily coastally
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa)

OTHER NAMES: Roughskin Newt
Latin Etymology: Taricha ("pickled meat") granulosa ("granulous")

Adullt Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha torosa) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Taricha granulosa granulose
Weight: g/kg  /  Length: 11-18cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A close relation of the California Newt, the Rough-skinned is difficult to separate, although they have a different breeding season and a number of subtle differences in appearances which can be used to separate them. Like the Californian newt, they also produce particularly powerful poisons capable of killing creatures far larger than them, including humans if ingested.

Related Species:
Order: Caudata
Family: Salamandridae
Genus: Taricha
SUBSPECIES: T. g. granulose, T. g. mazamae

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 

Endemic to California, primarily coastally
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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