Great crested newt
A great crested newt, northern crested newt, or warty newt (Triturus cristatus) is a newt in the family Salamandridae, found mainly across Europe up to about the Ural Mountains.[2]
| Northern crested newt | |
|---|---|
| |
| Male great crested newt in "mating dress". | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Salamandridae |
| Genus: | Triturus |
| Species: | T. cristatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Triturus cristatus (Laurenti, 1768)
| |
| |
| Northern crested newt range | |
It is a relatively large species. Females can measure up to 16 cm and are larger than males, which are 14 to 15 cm long. It is a protected species in the UK and Europe. Land development, population growth and agriculture has disturbed the newt, and it is becoming quite rare.
The newt breeds in ponds and pools, but usually lives on land. The larvae turn into air-breathing young efts and move onto land. They eat small invertebrates, and hibernate through the winter.[3]
Great Crested Newt Media
Nördlicher Kammmolch Triturus cristatus, am Rande des gefassten Tümpels hinter dem Zoologischen Institut, Göttingen.
The belly is yellow to orange with black, well-defined blotches.
Large ponds with abundant vegetation are the preferred breeding habitats.
Great crested newts and their conservation in Wales, video by Natural Resources Wales
Northern crested newt courtship in a pond, with male showing "lean-in" and tail-flapping behaviour
Drift fence for the capture and relocation of northern crested newts from a development site in the UK
References
- ↑ "Triturus cristatus (Great Crested Newt, Northern Crested Newt)". iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 2013-01-17.
- ↑ Also sometimes in westernmost Asia.
- ↑ English Nature: Great crested newt. [1]