what is it please? (pondy type lizard thingy)
 

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 !!

In article , bigjon
writes
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,

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.

Nice things to have in a pond!

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!

You've set up the pond nicely, to get things moving in that quick :-)

Try looking with a torch tonight - you may find you have a lot more than
you think! They tend to hide away in the weed during the day, and are a
lot easier to see at night.

Later in the summer look out for newt tadpoles (which are slimline
things, without the big head of the frog tadpoles) and baby newts about
an inch long and much lighter colour; also this years froglets about 1
cm long, and last year's, about an inch or so.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Kay decided to add:

In article , bigjon
writes
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,

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.

Nice things to have in a pond!

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!

You've set up the pond nicely, to get things moving in that quick :-)

Try looking with a torch tonight - you may find you have a lot more than
you think! They tend to hide away in the weed during the day, and are a
lot easier to see at night.

Later in the summer look out for newt tadpoles (which are slimline
things, without the big head of the frog tadpoles) and baby newts about
an inch long and much lighter colour; also this years froglets about 1
cm long, and last year's, about an inch or so.

Cool - thank you !

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 !!

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.

Did you see there is a form to fill in on the linked site as they monitor
newt populations?

Clare

"bigjon" wrote in message
...
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.

batgirl wrote:
Did you see there is a form to fill in on the linked site as they
monitor newt populations?

Clare

"bigjon" wrote in message
...
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.

Mike.
--

Because it disrupts the flow of the discussion.
Why should batgirl try not to top-post too often?

bigjon wrote:
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 !!

Not meaning to be unkind, but lizards are reptiles and have dry scaly skins
(we actually get a few round here, I saw one in a dry wall in town a couple
of years back, a male common lizard. That was, of course, before they
started destroying the railway).

Anyway, what you have there, my friend, is a newt, which is a member of the
order Amphibia, characterised by their smooth skins. The size tells me it's
a male Palmate Newt (/Triturus helveticus/) (the Common or Smooth Newt is
somewhat larger - reaching up to 4½").

They're good to have around as they'll eat many garden nasties but, if it
shares its habitat with frogs and/or toads then, depending on how many there
are (newts, that is) you may want to find another home for one or t'other
(it's probably kinder to move the newts, frogs - and toads - are very set in
their ways and don't care to move home as they will return to the pond in
which they were spawned) because spawn and tadpoles form a large part of the
newt's diet.

If you're sure that he's the only newt (highly unlikely) then you may leave
him as he won't do much damage (especially to a large frog and/or toad
population).

Otherwise, it would be kinder (to the other amphibious inhabitants) to
relocate as many as you can find.


--
In memory of MS MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

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.

--
In memory of MS MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

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.

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."


--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Miss Perspicacia Tick decided to add:

bigjon wrote:
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 !!

Not meaning to be unkind, but lizards are reptiles and have dry scaly skins
(we actually get a few round here, I saw one in a dry wall in town a couple
of years back, a male common lizard. That was, of course, before they
started destroying the railway).

Anyway, what you have there, my friend, is a newt, which is a member of the
order Amphibia, characterised by their smooth skins. The size tells me it's
a male Palmate Newt (/Triturus helveticus/) (the Common or Smooth Newt is
somewhat larger - reaching up to 4½").

They're good to have around as they'll eat many garden nasties but, if it
shares its habitat with frogs and/or toads then, depending on how many there
are (newts, that is) you may want to find another home for one or t'other
(it's probably kinder to move the newts, frogs - and toads - are very set in
their ways and don't care to move home as they will return to the pond in
which they were spawned) because spawn and tadpoles form a large part of the
newt's diet.

If you're sure that he's the only newt (highly unlikely) then you may leave
him as he won't do much damage (especially to a large frog and/or toad
population).

Otherwise, it would be kinder (to the other amphibious inhabitants) to
relocate as many as you can find.

Ok, now you have me thinking.....

The pond is circular, about 10ft across. We have counted over 60 frogs and
have had spawn that covered about a third of the surface this year. There
are tadpoles all over it, and these "newts" appear to just swim about
amongst them, although they are not very sociable. I think that if they are
eating the tadpoles, I don't mind as the frog population can cope ??

Janet Baraclough decided to add:

The message
from "Miss Perspicacia Tick" contains these words:


Not meaning to be unkind, but lizards are reptiles and have dry scaly skins
(we actually get a few round here, I saw one in a dry wall in town a couple
of years back, a male common lizard. That was, of course, before they
started destroying the railway).

Is nothing safe from those vandal lizards?

Janet.

rofl

Janet Baraclough wrote:
The message
from "Miss Perspicacia Tick" contains these words:


Not meaning to be unkind, but lizards are reptiles and have dry
scaly skins (we actually get a few round here, I saw one in a dry
wall in town a couple of years back, a male common lizard. That was,
of course, before they started destroying the railway).

Is nothing safe from those vandal lizards?

Janet.

PMSL!! You reckon I should start going to bed earlier?! ;o)

--
In memory of MS MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
...
The message
from "Miss Perspicacia Tick" contains these words:


Not meaning to be unkind, but lizards are reptiles and have dry scaly
skins
(we actually get a few round here, I saw one in a dry wall in town a
couple
of years back, a male common lizard. That was, of course, before they
started destroying the railway).

Is nothing safe from those vandal lizards?

Janet.

LOL

--
Tumbleweed

email replies not necessary but to contact use;
tumbleweednews at hotmail dot com

writes
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,

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.

Nice things to have in a pond!

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!

You've set up the pond nicely, to get things moving in that quick :-)

Try looking with a torch tonight - you may find you have a lot more than
you think! They tend to hide away in the weed during the day, and are a
lot easier to see at night.

Later in the summer look out for newt tadpoles (which are slimline
things, without the big head of the frog tadpoles) and baby newts about
an inch long and much lighter colour; also this years froglets about 1
cm long, and last year's, about an inch or so.

Well done from me also :-))

I had a similar experience and was amazed at how quickly these pondy
thingies found and started living in my new patch of water - I expected
it to take years but some appeared in year 1 and others in year 2, and
by year 3 it looked for all the world like it had been there for
centuries, with all sorts of pondy / banky / watery thingies crawling /
swimming / breeding / flying / chasing around over the year. My next
problem, like yours, was to find out what they all were, and its really
fun to find out what appears and what it is and how it behaves. I'm
totally hooked. Have fun!
--
David