# Smooth Newt (*Lissotriton punctatus*) The Smooth Newt is a gentle little swimmer with smooth skin. They love to soak in ponds and are great at catching food! - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Ponds and marshes - **Also known as:** European Newt ![Smooth Newt](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426869/objects/5661.jpg) ## Appearance The Smooth Newt is typically brown or olive-green with a paler, often yellow-orange, underside adorned with distinct dark spots. During breeding, males develop a prominent wavy crest along their back and tail, making them visually different from females and other newts. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Caudata - **Family:** Salamandridae - **Genus:** Lissotriton ## Interesting facts - Each egg is carefully folded into a plant leaf underwater for protection! - Males 'dance' underwater during spring to attract a mate! - They can change their skin colour slightly to blend in with their surroundings! - They spend winters hibernating under logs, stones, or buried in soil! ## Special abilities - **Regen Power:** Smooth Newt can regrow lost limbs, tails, jaws, and even eyes because of special stem cells that help them recover from injury. - **Toxic Shield:** Smooth Newt has mildly toxic skin secretions that helps them deter most predators from eating them. - **Water Breath:** Smooth Newt can breathe through its skin underwater because it's permeable, helping them absorb oxygen directly from water. - **Shape-Shifter:** Smooth Newt larvae live in water with gills, but adults grow lungs and live on land, helping them adapt to different environments. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 8-11 cm - **Weight:** 0.001-0.005 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-6 years - **Speed:** 0.5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 100-400 - **Metamorphosis:** 60-120 days ## Diet & Feeding Tiny hunters, they feast on small creatures like insects and worms both on land and in water. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat tiny water creatures like zooplankton, while adults hunt larger insects and worms. - **Primary Foods:** insect larvae, earthworms, slugs, pond snails, water fleas - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Grass Snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grass-snake) (*Natrix helvetica*) — A common predator in their habitat. - **Eaten by:** Blackbird (*Turdus merula*) — Adult newts are sometimes preyed upon. - **Eats:** Great Diving Beetle (*Dytiscus marginalis*) — Larvae of newts are eaten by these beetles. - **Hunts:** [Earthworm](https://www.snappit.app/explore/earthworm) (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — A staple food for adult newts on land. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/amphibians) - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Smooth Newt? Compare body shape, toes, markings, tail and skin texture. Tadpoles and larvae can look nothing like the adults they turn into. Amphibian Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Smooth Newt? 8-11 cm ### How much does Smooth Newt weigh? 0.001-0.005 kg ### How long does Smooth Newt live? 2-6 years ### How fast can Smooth Newt move? 0.5 km/h ### What does Smooth Newt eat? Tiny hunters, they feast on small creatures like insects and worms both on land and in water. ### Where is Smooth Newt usually found? Ponds and marshes ### How does Smooth Newt hunt? Foraging ## More Amphibians - [Eastern Red-backed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-red-backed-salamander) (*Plethodon cinereus*) - [California Slender Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-slender-salamander) (*Batrachoseps attenuatus*) - [Cuban Tree Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cuban-tree-frog) (*Osteopilus septentrionalis*) - [European Toad](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-toad) (*Bufo bufo*) --- Source: [Smooth Newt: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/smooth-newt)