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RAUK - Archived Forum - Newt or Lizard?

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Newt or Lizard?:

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mikeyc_123
Member
Joined: 02 Sep 2005
No. of posts: 7


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Posted: 02 Sep 2005

Hi Guys,

Firstly... This site is amazing.  The contribution from everyone makes it so fantastic!  I am in search of some help.  I have had these lizards/Newts in my garden for a while now and took this picture the other night.  It doesnt have the skin of the lizard and doesnt look like a newt.  They live under my patio and pop out when warm. They only seem to appear at night also!  Can anyone identify it for me please?  This is the biggest one I have seen.  There have been 2 new ones appear that are a sandy color and are really small so I think a bit of hanky panky has been happening under the patio!! 

 

Cheers

Michael

 


Caleb
Forum Coordinator
Joined: 17 Feb 2003
No. of posts: 448


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Posted: 02 Sep 2005
That's a newt. My guess would be a male smooth newt, though it's a little hard to tell from the photo.
mikeyc_123
Member
Joined: 02 Sep 2005
No. of posts: 7


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Posted: 02 Sep 2005

ah! I should try and get another photo with a decent camera.  I thought newts had a flat tail? 

Cheers

Michael


Caleb
Forum Coordinator
Joined: 17 Feb 2003
No. of posts: 448


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Posted: 02 Sep 2005
Their tail is flatter when they're living in the water (usually spring to early summer), and rounder when they're living on land.



herpetologic2
Senior Member
Joined: 15 Jun 2004
No. of posts: 1369


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Posted: 02 Sep 2005

 

A Smoothie without doubt......check the spots

Jon


Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant -
visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife
Dan Kane
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Dec 2005
No. of posts: 201


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Posted: 30 Dec 2005
Yep, it looks like an ault male smooth newt due to the presence of spots on the body and tail.
Dan

www.randacumbria.moonfruit.com
*SNAKE*
Senior Member
Joined: 16 May 2004
No. of posts: 220


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Posted: 01 Jan 2006

will agree def a newt

 

  Paul


PAUL SMITH     
GemmaJF
Admin Group
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
No. of posts: 2090


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Posted: 01 Jan 2006

Hi Dan,

Welcome to RAUK, just a comment on your signature,

"When I move in summer 2006 i plan to build a compost heap and a pond in my garden to provide a welcome home for reptiles and amphibians"

I hope you do! We did this just 18 months ago. So far we have:

Smooth Newts

Common Frogs

Slow-worms

Common Lizards

Grass snakes

All colonised naturally in that short space of time , and it isn't a large wildlife garden either.

We have also had voles, shrews, a weasel and have a growing list of birds that pass through. It's a good idea to form some kind of hibernation bank using the soil removed from the pond as well.

Though this is quite an old post, I agree the picture is of a male smooth newt.


Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant
Suzi
Senior Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
No. of posts: 860


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Posted: 01 Jan 2006

I have the compost heaps and get slow worms (over 30 now), occasional grass snakes, frogs, toads and newts.

I finally got a pond (smallish) in September and a frog arrived within days and I think is hibernating in there under a plant in a pot. I have had grey wagtails drinking/feeding round the edge as well.

I can't wait for spring to see what will come visiting!


Suz
djp_phillips
Senior Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
No. of posts: 180


View other posts by djp_phillips
Posted: 28 Jan 2006
Newt, firstly lizards are less shiny, they have scales and their fingers are
long, thin and jagged
Reptiles & Amphibians of France:
www.herpfrance.com

European Field Herping Community:
www.euroherp.com

- Newt or Lizard?

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