Smooth Newt
ExploreAmphibians
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!
Habitat: Ponds and marshes
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.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAmphibiaOrderCaudataFamilySalamandridaeGenusLissotriton
Category
AmphibiansRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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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
Ability
Regen Power
Smooth Newt can regrow lost limbs, tails, jaws, and even eyes because of special stem cells that help them recover from injury.
Ability
Toxic Shield
Smooth Newt has mildly toxic skin secretions that helps them deter most predators from eating them.
Ability
Water Breath
Smooth Newt can breathe through its skin underwater because it's permeable, helping them absorb oxygen directly from water.
Ability
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
- Top 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
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
Lumbricus terrestris
A staple food for adult newts on land.
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Webbed Feet
Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming.
Insectivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.
Freshwater
Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
Nocturnal
Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
Also known as
European Newt
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions
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
How many eggs does Smooth Newt lay?
100-400
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