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#16
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The message
from Dave contains these words: http://www.topqualityfreeware.com/lizzie.html It was about three inches long, nose to tip of tail, and played dead until released into the water. We are presuming it's a common newty type thing, Kay writes Yep - it's a common newty type thing! Without looking it up, I think it's the common (smooth) newt, and I think the spots and orange tum make it a male. Looks like a male smooth newt, possibly a young (last year's) one as its belly isn't quite so spectacular as it might have been. Nice things to have in a pond! Indeed yes. When I was a kid I had a lot of friends who were newts. Well done from me also :-)) And from me. Now you'll have to be careful moving bits of wood, stones, piles of weeds &c in the summer, autumn and winter: they lurk beneath things and look almost dried-up. Don't assume they need a swim! -- Rusty Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar. http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ |
#17
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In article , Miss Perspicacia
Tick writes bigjon wrote: batgirl decided to add: Found this... http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/smooth_newt.htm Clare "bigjon" wrote in message ... We were cleaning out the pumps on our pond this week and came across this - http://www.topqualityfreeware.com/lizzie.html It was about three inches long, nose to tip of tail, and played dead until released into the water. We are presuming it's a common newty type thing, but as we've only had the pond a couple of years we are wondering... We now know there are a couple of these above at least, maybe more along with a shedfull of frogs and countless tadpoles! Thanks anybody that can help !! Yes - I'm sure it's a common newt now - I just love this, having wildlife in the Garden !! Thank you. It isn't a Common Newt - it's not big enough - it's a Palmate. Kay writes I'm not sure size is adequate by itself to distinguish, at least this way round - smooth (common) newts grow from about one inch, so have to pass three inches on the way. It seems to be the underside that distinguishes - for example From: http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/palmate_newt.htm "It can be very difficult to distinguish the Palmate Newt from the Smooth Newt (Triturus vulgaris). Smooth Newts tend to be larger, typically 8-11 cm in length. Male smooth newts have a much more developed wavy crest on their backs in the breeding season and no tail filament, they have a rounder body than Palmates Newts which appear square in cross-section. The most consistent difference is that Palmate newts usually do not have spotted or speckled throats." and from: "The Palmate Newt is Britain’s other small brown newt. It is not quite as big as the Smooth Newt, rarely exceeding 6cm. Adult females are difficult to distinguish from female Smooth Newts, the best way to tell them apart is the fact that the throat of the Smooth Newt is spotted and that of the Palmate newt is plain pink or yellow. The male, in breeding condition, has a low crest along the middle of the back, a filament at the tip of the tail and black webs on the back feet. The dark markings at the side of the head are more distinct in the Palmate Newt. Whilst widely distributed, the Palmate Newt has a distinct preference for shallow ponds on acid soils. It is therefore most commonly found on heathland in the south and west, and in the north on moorland and bogs." and finally a picture on http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/smooth_newt.htm which is captioned "Ventral surface of a male Smooth Newt, showing the spotted throat that helps to distinguish them from the similar Palmate Newt." Just by coincidence my youngest son caught one in the pond yesterday, and also another today, and we turned it over and found the colours which you mentioned. I would never have thought of looking underneath had it not been for this thread and your info, so I've e-mailed you a photo! Its is quite spectacularly yellow and orange with black spots, and apparently he says there is also a much bigger male there too, as well as smaller ones which are much paler. Fantastic. -- David |
#18
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In article , Dave
writes Just by coincidence my youngest son caught one in the pond yesterday, and also another today, and we turned it over and found the colours which you mentioned. I would never have thought of looking underneath had it not been for this thread and your info, so I've e-mailed you a photo! Its is quite spectacularly yellow and orange with black spots, and apparently he says there is also a much bigger male there too, as well as smaller ones which are much paler. Fantastic. that's what I love about urg - you learn so much. I wouldn't have looked in such detail as to the difference between palmate and smooth newts had I not been involved in this thread -- Kay "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river" |
#19
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The message
from Dave contains these words: Just by coincidence my youngest son caught one in the pond yesterday, and also another today, and we turned it over and found the colours which you mentioned. I would never have thought of looking underneath had it not been for this thread and your info, so I've e-mailed you a photo! Its is quite spectacularly yellow and orange with black spots, and apparently he says there is also a much bigger male there too, as well as smaller ones which are much paler. Fantastic. The 'much bigger male' is probably a great crested newt. -- Rusty Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar. http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ |
#20
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