Triturus cristatus

(Laurenti, 1768)

Vernacular names
English : Northern crested newt
French : Triton crêté

Classification
Class : Amphibia
Order : Caudata
Family : Salamandridae
Notes : No subspecies known. Former subspecies have been either split or invalidated.

Identification
The species can grow to 16 cm in length, females being slightly longer. Flanks and back dark brown with black blotches, underside yellowish-white with two rows of black blotches. Males have deeply jagged crest on back and tail.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in most of northern Europe, from United Kingdom to north France, northwards to south Norway, east to Ukraine and the Ural mountains. Lives in forests, pastures, meadows with semi-flowing water, to 1700 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species has a large range and can be locally common to abundant but some populations are threatened by habitat loss and pollution.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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