Foto: Łukasz Siudziński

Smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris)

The smooth newt is a representative of tailed amphibians with a delicate and streamlined body. It is difficult to observe the smooth newt in the wild due to its small size, inconspicuous coloration, and its mainly nocturnal life. It is a common species that easily adapts to the environmental conditions. It inhabits both wet meadows, bogs, and drier heathlands and woodlands. Being an synanthrope it likes staying in the vicinity of human settlements. It wakes up from hibernation at the beginning of March, as soon as the temperature rises above 6° C, then it proceeds to mating. To attract a female, the male changes its coloration into a brighter one and performs a complex “mating dance”.

A characteristic feature of the male’ breeding dress is a wavy crest of up to 10 mm high. The female lays approx. 200 eggs at a time which are wrapped in the leaves of aquatic plants so as to protect them from predators. After the end of the breeding season the smooth newts go on land where they move quite slowly. They are unable to escape predators. Then their only defense are the skin venom glands that produce a bitter secretion with a strong musty smell. The newts feed on invertebrates and small amphibians.