The Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus)

Copyright: Howard Inns

This is our largest and also our most threatened species of newt.  In comparison to the Smooth Newt and the Palmate Newt, the Great Crested Newt is significantly larger, growing up to 15 cm in length and looking much heavier.  This species is dark brown or black in colour with a more warty, rough skin.  The underside is bright orange with black spots and the sides are stippled with tiny white dots.  In the spring, the males develop an impressive ragged crest along their back and a separate straight edged crest along the top of the tail.  Females, particularly in the breeding season when they are swollen with eggs are bulky in appearance but lack the crest of the male.  The efts of this species are mottled with black and have a tiny filament at the end of the tail.  They are bigger and somewhat more fish like than the efts of the other two species. 

The Great Crested Newt is a voracious feeder and because of its size can consume much larger prey than the smaller newt species.  It can be found in ponds of all types and when a pond is particularly favourable, numbers can grow to impressive proportions.  This species needs extensive good wild habitat with plenty of invertebrate food for the period outside the breeding season when it spends time on land, and as a result is less commonly found in gardens. 

The Great Crested Newt is widely distributed but uncommon throughout Britain, including Scotland.  It is absent from Ireland.  More than the other newt species it has suffered declines in recent decades, both here and in the rest of its range.  

Because of the massive declines in range and abundance in recent years, the Great Crested Newt is strictly protected by British and European law which makes it an offence to:

• kill, injure or capture them;

• disturb them in any way

• damage or destroy their habitat

• possess them or sell or trade them in any way.