palmate newt
Lissotriton helveticus
Summary 7
The palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus) is a species of newt found in most of Western Europe, including Great Britain. It is protected by law in all countries where it occurs, and is thought to be extremely rare to endangered in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, and vulnerable in Spain and Poland, but common elsewhere.
Biology 8
Palmate newts are very similar in general habits and behaviour to smooth newts. They are crepuscular, with activity peaking at dusk and dawn. This secretive newt (2) spends most of the day in thick aquatic vegetation, coming out into open water only after dark (3). Their diet is very broad, and includes zooplankton, freshwater shrimps and hoglice; when they are on land they eat a wide range of invertebrates, the capture of which is aided by the possession of a sticky tongue (3).
Sources and Credits
- (c) Penny Mayes, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/25942918@N00/2935458029
- (c) 2010 Todd Pierson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=340938&one=T
- (c) 2004 Henk Wallays, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=145422&one=T
- (c) 2005 Henk Wallays, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=162016&one=T
- (c) 2005 Henk Wallays, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=159135&one=T
- (c) 2005 Henk Wallays, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=161770&one=T
- (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lissotriton_helveticus
- (c) Wildscreen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/6680385
