Great Crested or Warty Newt - Triturus cristatus - Native

Identification

Tailed Amphibian-Warty skin

Dorsal surface and flanks, Dark brown or black.

Row of white/silver dots along side of head and body.

Males develop a jagged dorsal crest during the breeding season

Ventral surface, dark orange or yellow with distinct pattern of black blotches.

The throat is whitish and thickly spotted with brown/black.

Length: Males up to 15 cm

Females to 18 cm

Sexing

Males are smaller than females and develop the jagged (denticular) crest in the breeding seasons. Conversely females always have a slight depression along the centre of the back throughout life. Males also have longer legs than females in proportion to body size.

Breeding and Eggs

The female lays between 200 - 300 eggs from early May till the middle of July. The eggs measure between 4.5 - 6 mm when first deposited and are noticeably larger than those of our other native newts. They consist of a gelatinous envelope with a whitish/yellow embryo. The eggs are laid individually on aquatic plants.

What else could it be?

Sometimes confused with the Smooth Newt (Triturus vulgaris). Male Smooth Newts also develop a large dorsal crest, but it is undulating, unbroken from head to tail, and smooth edged, unlike the jagged broken crest of the Great Crested Newt.

Great Crested Newts are by far our largest native species and have distinctly warty skin of blackish appearance, whereas the other two species have smooth skin, and appear a lighter olive or tan colour.

Where will I see a Great Crested Newt?

These newts prefer to breed in deep ponds that contain plenty of aquatic vegetation. Though usually only aquatic from March through to early August, some populations have been reported to remain present in ponds all year round. More usually the adults leave their ponds in July/August and live on land until hibernation in September. Great Crested Newts are known to range further from their breeding ponds than the other two native species, and may be found in quite diverse habitats in late summer, such as gardens, ditches and woodlands.

The Great Crested Newt is an endangered species and protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

It is an offence to disturb these newts in any way

Kill, harm or injure them

Cause damage to their habitat

Possess, sell or trade them in any way