You
are likely to spot the smooth newt in your garden or local pond. It
breeds in water in summer and spends the rest of the year in grassland
and woodland, hibernating over winter.
About
Newts
are amphibians, breeding in ponds during the spring and spending most
of the rest of the year feeding on invertebrates in woodland, hedgerows,
marshes and tussocky grassland. They hibernate underground, among tree
roots and in old walls. The smooth newt is also known as the 'common
newt' and is the species you are most likely to find in your garden
pond.How to identify
The
smooth newt is grey-brown, with an orange belly and neat black spots
all over. In the breeding season, males have a smooth crest running the
full length of their body and tail.Distribution
Found
throughout the country, except for parts of western Scotland, the west
of Wales, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and the Isles of Scilly.Did you know?
Smooth newts eat insects,
caterpillars, worms and slugs while on land, and crustaceans, molluscs
and tadpoles when in the water. They are most active during the night.
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