The smooth newt, also known as the 'common newt', is the species you’re most likely to find in your local canal, but the UK is home to two other species: the great crested newt and the palmate newt.
Smooth newts are widespread amphibians, spending summers in water and the rest of the year on land.
Newt facts
Scientific name: Pleurodelinae
Family: Salamandridae
Diet: Carnivorous newts will eat anything they can catch, from worms and water snails to other invertebrates and insects
Predators: Birds, fish, and other amphibians
Size: Between 7-11cm, but some species can grow up to 17cm
Lifespan: Between 10-27 years, depending on the species
Native dragons
Newts are relatively common amphibians. If you look carefully, you might find the palmate and smooth newt along any of our waterways. However, newts are nocturnal, remaining in hiding under stones or logs during the day and are not often seen.
The great crested newt, on the other hand, is one of nature’s largest amphibians – and rare in the UK. If you’re lucky, you might just spot a flash of black and orange beneath the water.
Newts and our canals
As with other native amphibians, newts require aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Our canals provide the ideal spaces for newts to live and breed on and off land. Newts like to hibernate in grassland and woodland, which often line our canals.
A young smooth newt with brown colouring rests on wood on dry land.
Smooth newts
Smooth newts are pale brown or olive green with spotted throats. They’re about seven to 11cm long and can live to 20 years.
On land, their skin dries and they might be mistaken for lizards.
Palmate
Palmate newts are light brown or olive green with orange bellies. The lack of spots on their throats makes them distinctive from the smooth newt. Palmates can grow to nine to 10cm and live to around 10 years.
Great crested newts
Great crested newts are dark with warty skin (hence the nickname ‘warty newt’), speckled with white spots and yellow or orange undersides. Males have a high, jagged crest running along their backs, especially pronounced during the breeding season. These newts are the largest of our native species, measuring a maximum of 17cm. They can also live up to an impressive 27 years.
Newts eat insects, caterpillars, worms, and slugs on land. When in the water, they’ll eat crustaceans, molluscs, and tadpoles. They're most active hunters at night.
Where do newts live?
These ancient amphibians make their homes along our canals and in lakes and ponds. However, increasing urbanisation and loss of habitat have made it harder for news to live and breed. This has had an impact on populations across Europe.
Newts have a similar life cycle to frogs and toads, hibernating through the winter months and returning to breeding ponds in the spring. Like other amphibians, they're terrestrial (living on land) for parts of the year, using the waterways during the breeding season.
A healthy population of 250 great crested newts would need at least one hectare of terrestrial habitat, as well as a suitable still-standing breeding pond, to survive for any length of time.
After hibernating among tree roots, rocks, or any other crevice they can find, newts begin their breeding season in the spring. Male newts extent their crests and brighten their colours to perform courtship dances.
Female news lay eggs by July and the adult newts return to the land.
Tips to spot newts
You won’t need to go far to spot a newt, with evidence suggesting they’re present in all our waterways. However, it’s important you don’t disturb them. Especially stay clear of great crested newts as they're protected by law.
The best time of day to spot newts performing their courtship dances is after dark. Find a safe place to stand on the land where you can see the open water during daylight and, when night falls, watch them dance by torchlight.
Remember to take care and be safe when around water, especially at night.
What's the best time of year to spot newts?
Newts take to the water during their breeding season. If you want to glimpse these ancient dragons, head to our canals between February and July.
What's the difference between a newt and a lizard?
Skin: Lizards have dry, tough scales, whereas newts have moist skin and no scales.
Feet: Newts have four toes; lizards have five with small claws.
Shape: Newts have round heads, whereas lizards have a pointed snout. Newts grow wavy crests along their backs during the breeding season. A lizard might have a short, stubby tail.
Size: Adult lizards grow up to 15cm, compared to newts, which are generally around 10cm. Great crested newts can reach 17cm.
Loss of habitats mean great crested newts are experiencing a worrying decline across Europe. They’re a protected species and it’s against the law to disturb them.
