If you’ve ever spent time in your garden or near a pond in Europe, you might have encountered a small, intriguing creature known as the smooth newt. This little amphibian, often mistaken for a lizard, is actually quite common across many parts of Europe and is a delightful sight for nature lovers.
The smooth newt, also known as the common newt, is a small amphibian that can grow up to about 10 centimeters long. They have smooth skin, as their name suggests, and during the breeding season, males develop a continuous wavy crest from their heads to their tails. Their color can vary, but they are usually brown or grey with an orange belly that is spotted with black—a handy tip to identify them! They are quite versatile and can be found in a variety of habitats. They are primarily land-dwellers, but during the breeding season in spring, they head to water to mate and lay eggs. You can find them in garden ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams. After breeding, they return to land and can often be found hiding under logs, rocks, or even in dense undergrowth.
These newts are not picky eaters. Their diet consists mostly of small invertebrates like worms, insects, and slugs. During their aquatic phase, they might also munch on water fleas, tadpoles, and small shrimp. Hunting for food happens both in water and on land, depending on where they are in their life cycle.
Distribution
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia And Herz.
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Kazakhstan
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Moldova
Montenegro
Netherlands
North Macedonia
Norway
Poland
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
United KingdomAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
