British Newts: A short guide

Scotland and the wider United Kingdom are home to three native species of newt. Many people don't ever see them, they are small, fast and very well camouflaged.

Let's take a look at newts in the UK, what they eat and where you can find them!

What is a newt?

A newt is a small animal (7-17 cm long) from the salamander family - Salamandridae, and the subfamily of Pleurodelinae. They look like lizards but are actually amphibians and breed in stagnant bodies of water around the United Kingdom as well as areas of North America, Europe and Asia.

Newts are semi-aquatic and look like a cross between frogs and lizards.

What are the differences between newts and salamanders?

Newts are more aquatic than salamanders and spend the first part of their life in water. Salamanders are more ground-based, apart from when it comes to breeding!

Newts have a long paddle-like tail and webbed feet making them more adapted to living in water, whereas salamanders have longer, rounder tails. Newts also develop lungs for breathing, salamanders breathe through their skin.

Salamander skin is smooth, wet-looking and shiny. Newt's skin is rougher and warty. Both need access to water to keep their skin moist as drying out can be fatal.

Smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris)

Also known as the common newt, they eat insects, love woodland, hedgerows, marshes and grassland and are considered the most widespread newt species in the UK.

Ponds and bodies of water are common breeding grounds where males develop a smooth crest running down the length of their bodies throughout the breeding season.

Smooth newt larvae differ from frog and toad tadpoles spawn with their feathery gills around their heads. The smooth newt is not endangered and is of least concern in terms of conservation.

Smooth newts info points:

• Brown with spots

• 7-11 cm long

• Lifespan: 6 years

• Active between March to October

• Mostly nocturnal

Palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus)

Palmate newts can look very similar to smooth newts but prefer shallower water and more acidic environments. You can tell the difference by the black webbing on their rear feet.

These newts appear in most places in the UK, but non on the Scottish islands or Isle of Man. The palmate newt is the most common newt in France. They are not in decline and are of the least conservation concern.

Palmate newts info points:

• Smallest UK newt species

• Peach/yellow bellies

• Spots on the belly but none on the throat

• Black webs on hind feet

• 7-9 cm long

• Lifespan: 10 years

• Active between March and October

Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus)

By far the largest of the native UK newts, great crested newts look like little dinosaurs and have also been given the nickname of 'warty newt'. The UK population of great crested newts are considered internationally important.

These are more common in England and Wales than in Scotland.

Great crested newt info points:

• Largest UK newt

• Nearly fully black in colour

• Warty skin

• Orange belly

• Yellow toes

• Up to 17 cm long

• Lifespan: 6-15 years

• Active between March and October

Why are great crested newts protected?

Numbers have been significantly reduced in the wild, mainly due to the destruction of their habitats and pollution, many essential breeding sites have been lost. They were also popular targets to be captured and kept as pets, further reducing the population in wild.

The popularity of garden ponds has increased viable habitats and is fuelling a small resurgence of great crested newts.

Newt lifecycle

1. A courtship display initiates breeding with the males swimming in front of the females.

2. The males vibrate their tails towards females to push pheromones towards them.

3. A spermatophore of sperm is released which will attach to the female's cloaca.

4. Females will often avoid mating with relatives to avoid problems with inbreeding.

5. The fully fertilised females will lay 100-500 eggs upon aquatic plants.

6. The aquatic larvae/newt tadpoles will hatch after 10-20 days and will reach the 'eft' stage after about 3 months.

7. Juvenile newts will turn into mature adults in two to three years.

What do baby news eat?

Whiteworms, earthworms, daphnia, tubifex, slugs and water snails are common prey for baby newts.

What do baby news look like?

Newt babies are called 'tadpoles' and look more like baby fish with feathered gills. Newts evolve like frogs into their adult form.

FAQs

Are newts lizards?

No, they are members of the salamander family but do have a lizard-like body. A general rule is if you can catch it, then it's a newt! Lizards are way too fast!

Are newts rare in Scotland / UK?

No, they are fairly common, they are just excellent at hiding and blending in with their environment.

Can you keep a newt as a pet?

No, they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, best just to leave wild animals alone, they will be much happier wild and free. Great crested newts are a protected species so it would be illegal to keep these as pets.

Pets can be sourced via legal means.

Are newts in the UK poisonous?

No, none of the three UK species is poisonous.

What are 'efts'?

Newt larvae develop front legs first and once they have absorbed their gills, they leave the water. At this stage, they are known as 'efts' or 'newlets'. They will turn into mature adults after two to three years.

What do newts eat?

Caterpillars, slugs, snails, earthworms from the land, and in water, frog tadpoles, molluscs and crustaceans.

What does a newt turn into?

Adult newts! There is no further part of the lifecycle after reaching adulthood.

Where is the most common place to see a newt?

They love to colonise garden ponds and like to hide within pond plants, along with castle moats and small lochs. Any place with small, still, stagnant bodies of water, especially if a fish free pond.

What are the main predators of newts?

• Grass snakes

• Common frogs

• Larger newts / cannibalism

• Water birds - ducks

• Birds - kingfishers

• Water beetles

• Dragonfly nymphs

Conclusion

I hope this article has been interesting for you and increased your awareness of these beautiful amphibians in Scotland. See my article on adders, dolphins, highland cows, pine martens and the dreaded highland midge for more information on other of Scotland's native animals.