Please help to identify this creature.
Discussion
Looks like a newt to me, just one example of a UK variety.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=...
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=...
Newts will have left the water by now, so it would be quite normal to find them on land. If you were able to catch it in your hands then it's definitely a newt. They're not terribly fast moving.
It'll either be a smooth (common) newt or palmate. Remember that pictures will often show them in breeding colours, which won't match the animals' colouration now. They become more difficult to identify when they're in 'normal' colouration.
Newts are cool. I like them!
It'll either be a smooth (common) newt or palmate. Remember that pictures will often show them in breeding colours, which won't match the animals' colouration now. They become more difficult to identify when they're in 'normal' colouration.
Newts are cool. I like them!
Astacus said:
I believe it's a palmate newt.
It could be either a palmate or a common (smooth) newt from those pics. The main visual difference, outside of the breeding season, is that sooth newts have spotted throats, palmate newts unspotted.OP: Like many amphibians, basic colouration varies according to environment, but it's the males that are more heavily spotted; females and juvenile more lightly spotted or consistent colour. What you have there appears to be an adult female.
bimsb6 said:
Are you really a vet? Seriously .
Ha! Yes I am an actual vet. I can't say I have come across any in practice and it never came up at uni. I had an idea it was a newt of some sort so, hopefully I have restored some faith in my ability! It didn't have any visible spots so I assume it was a palmate newt. Cool to see as I can't say I have seen one that close up before!
Thanks.
Mr Tom said:
bimsb6 said:
Are you really a vet? Seriously .
Ha! Yes I am an actual vet. I can't say I have come across any in practice and it never came up at uni. I had an idea it was a newt of some sort so, hopefully I have restored some faith in my ability! It didn't have any visible spots so I assume it was a palmate newt. Cool to see as I can't say I have seen one that close up before!
Thanks.
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