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Monday, 22 April 2019

Smooth and Palmate Newts

I have a small garden pond which attracts both Smooth and Palmate Newts. Smooth Newts are the commonest but their identification is not easy, especially at the start of the breeding season. In the photo below the Smooth Newt is at the top. It lacks the fully webbed toes of the Palmate and it also lacks the thin filament on the tail end which is just visible in the lower photo. 
I presume both species occur widely in suitable ponds across the area and have also seen the Great Crested Newt locally but have yet to see one in my pond.
Smooth Newt (upper) and Palmate Newt (lower)

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