I found two palmate newts Lissotriton helveticus - a male and a female - while I was gardening yesterday. Delightful little amphibians.
This is the male, with ......
....distinctive webbed hind feet ....
....... and here's the female, who has ....
..... hind feet with toes like a cartoon character, without any webbing . Her belly is distended with as-yet unfertilised eggs.
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So neat, Phil. I feel protective of creatures when I see their little toes and feet. And their bellies poking out, especially.
ReplyDeleteThey seem very gentle creatures compared with frogs and toads - and they have such wonderful courtship dances! There's some video at http://www.arkive.org/smooth-newt/triturus-vulgaris/video-09a.html
ReplyDeleteSweet little things.
ReplyDeletevery gentle creatures compared with vociferous frogs and toads!
DeleteGlad to get back in checking on your Blog. I have been out of the country for the last two months and missed your postings. Interesting newts!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting!
DeleteI too missed your post for some time. Are newts related to the garden lizards?
ReplyDeleteHi lotusleaf, only in as much as amphibians like newts were the evolutionary ancestors of reptiles like lizards
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