The palmate newt is slightly smaller than the smooth newt with which it is often confused. Both newts are common throughout Britain with the palmate newt tolerating slightly drier conditions meaning that it can travel further distances from watery habitats.
Overview
In early March palmate newt emerge from hibernation and head to shallow pools and garden ponds for breeding. Palmate newts are tolerant of acidic soils so can be found in water bodies on such terrain, whereas smooth newts are absent. They travel away from water over the course of the year in search of new feeding and hibernating areas, so often have long journeys to make in the Spring to find a pond and a mate. Breeding stretches from their arrival at ponds and pools in March up until May when all the eggs have been laid. The females, like other newt species, lay eggs one at a time onto a plants leaf and carefully fold it over. It is almost impossible to tell the difference between the smooth and palmate newt eggs.
The adults remain in the water until July, they then emerge and spend the rest of the summer feeding and hiding on land. Once out of the water the males lose their decorative crests and filaments and become altogether drabber in appearance. They spend time filling up on worms, slugs and small insects to prepare themselves for their winter slumber. Palmate newts will usually spend this time resting up in deep layers of leaf litter.
Identification
Males are smaller reaching up to 8.5cm, whilst the females can grow slightly longer to 9.5cm. In some isolated populations adults rarely exceed 6.5cm long.
The palmate newt ranges from olive green to light brown with some females recorded as yellowish. The males often have a distinct marbled effect, so they are easily confused with the smooth newt, their slightly larger relative.
A feature common to this species is a dark band running across the eye that appears as a small mask. The underside of the main body is either a creamy colour or slightly yellowish, sometimes with very faint brown speckles. The distinguishing feature of this species is that the throat is plain with no markings.
During the breeding season the males develop a low, straight crest which rises along the centre of their backs with a slightly more pronounced crest along the length of their tails. In addition they develop a unique filament at the tip of the tail which is a short, thin extension lacking the wavy paddle-like edges of the rest of the tail. On their hind feet black webs appear, giving a further distinguishing feature.
In The Garden
As with all our amphibian species a pond in the garden provides these newts with a place to breed and somewhere for their young to develop. However it is still possible to provide a suitable habitat for palmate newts to benefit from outside of the breeding season as they will stray away from ponds from July onwards. Autumn leaves piled beneath hedgerows and covering flower beds and borders will provide an ideal hibernating spot for these newts if not disturbed throughout the winter.
Did you know?
It is the shape of the feet which give this newt its common name, they are said to resemble the palm of a hand, hence “palmate”.
Written by Dan Reed