cool-critters:

Smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris)

The smooth newt is a species of newt commonly found throughout Europe. Three subspecies are currently accepted: L. v. vulgaris, L. v. ampelensis and L. v. meridionalis. Males of smooth newt reach around 9–11 cm head-to-tail length and are thus – an exception in newts – slightly larger than the females, which reach 8–9.5 cm. During the aquatic breeding season, males develop a denticulated crest, which runs uninterruptedly along the back and the tail. Colours in general are more vivid than during the land phase. The aquatic larvae are 6.5–7 mm long and yellow-brown with two longitudinal stripes at hatching. They initially have only two balancers at the sides of the head, which get resorbed within a few days. Mainly a lowland species, the smooth newt is only exceptionally found above 1,000 m. It accepts a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic habitats. On land, it occurs in wooded areas (dense conifer woods are avoided) but also in more open areas such as damp meadows, field edges, parks and gardens. It readily adapts to urban environments. The newts hide under structures such as logs or stones or in small mammal burrows. Aquatic breeding sites must be close to the land habitats. They are typically sun-exposed, free from fish, stagnant, permanent or water-filled for at least three months, close to similar water bodies, and have shallow areas with abundant water plants. They can range from small puddles to larger ponds or shallow parts of lakes. Smooth newts live on land during most of the year and are mainly nocturnal. They also usually hibernate on land, often in congregations of several newts in shelters such as under logs or in burrows. The efts turn into mature adults at two to three years, and an overall age of 6–14 years can be reached in the wild. Smooth newts, including the larvae, are unselective carnivores, feeding mainly on diverse invertebrates such as earthworms, snails or insects, or smaller plankton. Cannibalism also occurs, mainly by preying on eggs of its own species. Various predators eat smooth newts, including waterbirds, snakes and frogs, but also larger newts such as the northern crested newt.

photo credits: Mark Hofstetter, Anevrisme, Piet Spaans