wes_von_papineäu
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THE GUARDIAN (London, UK) 07 June 08 Smooth, Palmate and Great crested newt
Three species of native newt can be found throughout Britain - the commonest being the smooth (AKA common) newt.
Smooth newts are brown or olive green and have pale, spotted throats and orange bellies that are either pale or covered in black spots. Males have a wavy instead of jagged crest running from head to tail during breeding season and are spotted. Both genders grow up to 10cm.
The palmate newt is similar but generally grows to just 6cm, has a pink or yellow throat and a white border running round its orange belly. It also has dark markings on the side of its head.
Great crested newts can grow up to 15cm, look heavier than the other two species and are dark brown or black with rough, warty skin. They have yellow or orange bellies splotched in black with tiny white spots. Males have a toothed crest along their backs that smoothens at the tail in the spring.
Where they live
Outside of breeding season, smooth newts occupy a range of habitats including woods, wet heathland, marshes, gardens, bogs and parks. To breed they like weedy water such as ponds, ditches and lake margins. Great crested newts prefer this type of habitat all year round but sometimes live in dew ponds. Palmate newts are likely to be found on heathland in the south and west and in moorland and bogs in the north.
How to spot them
Natural England amphibians and reptiles specialist Jim Foster says: "From February to June they are in ponds breeding, which is the best time to see them. Go with a torch after dark as they seem to be most active at night. Warm nights are best; if the temperature is below five degrees they just shut up shop." It is also a good idea to take binoculars as newts are timid. If you do disturb them, go back to the same place later as there are likely to be hundreds of newts living in one pond during breeding season.
Look out for ...
Foster says: "If there is a lot of vegetation and folded-over leaves round a pond it generally means they have been breeding there. The females lay their eggs, wrap a leaf round each one and leave."
Did you know?
The expression "pissed as a newt" comes from the creature's side-to-side gait as it walks.
Newt labour
Former London mayor Ken Livingstone is known for being passionately outspoken about two things in particular: buses and newts. He was introduced to newts by his biology teacher Raymond Rivers at Tulse Hill comprehensive and has reared them throughout his life. He also used his status to fight their corner as an often marginalised native UK amphibian.
In 1996, Livingstone spoke out against Tory party contributor Lord Hanson's plans for a development over the habitat of a colony of great crested newts. Although they were being moved to a suitable location, he was keen to highlight the injustice that the newts had to relocate rather than Lord Hanson. In 2007, the 62-year-old's dedication to the plight of newts was finally rewarded. He was credited in Froglife's newt years honours list for services to amphibiankind.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/07/newts
Three species of native newt can be found throughout Britain - the commonest being the smooth (AKA common) newt.
Smooth newts are brown or olive green and have pale, spotted throats and orange bellies that are either pale or covered in black spots. Males have a wavy instead of jagged crest running from head to tail during breeding season and are spotted. Both genders grow up to 10cm.
The palmate newt is similar but generally grows to just 6cm, has a pink or yellow throat and a white border running round its orange belly. It also has dark markings on the side of its head.
Great crested newts can grow up to 15cm, look heavier than the other two species and are dark brown or black with rough, warty skin. They have yellow or orange bellies splotched in black with tiny white spots. Males have a toothed crest along their backs that smoothens at the tail in the spring.
Where they live
Outside of breeding season, smooth newts occupy a range of habitats including woods, wet heathland, marshes, gardens, bogs and parks. To breed they like weedy water such as ponds, ditches and lake margins. Great crested newts prefer this type of habitat all year round but sometimes live in dew ponds. Palmate newts are likely to be found on heathland in the south and west and in moorland and bogs in the north.
How to spot them
Natural England amphibians and reptiles specialist Jim Foster says: "From February to June they are in ponds breeding, which is the best time to see them. Go with a torch after dark as they seem to be most active at night. Warm nights are best; if the temperature is below five degrees they just shut up shop." It is also a good idea to take binoculars as newts are timid. If you do disturb them, go back to the same place later as there are likely to be hundreds of newts living in one pond during breeding season.
Look out for ...
Foster says: "If there is a lot of vegetation and folded-over leaves round a pond it generally means they have been breeding there. The females lay their eggs, wrap a leaf round each one and leave."
Did you know?
The expression "pissed as a newt" comes from the creature's side-to-side gait as it walks.
Newt labour
Former London mayor Ken Livingstone is known for being passionately outspoken about two things in particular: buses and newts. He was introduced to newts by his biology teacher Raymond Rivers at Tulse Hill comprehensive and has reared them throughout his life. He also used his status to fight their corner as an often marginalised native UK amphibian.
In 1996, Livingstone spoke out against Tory party contributor Lord Hanson's plans for a development over the habitat of a colony of great crested newts. Although they were being moved to a suitable location, he was keen to highlight the injustice that the newts had to relocate rather than Lord Hanson. In 2007, the 62-year-old's dedication to the plight of newts was finally rewarded. He was credited in Froglife's newt years honours list for services to amphibiankind.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/07/newts