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Johnr27uk · Tuesday 20th March 2012, 11:18

Took this photo last night in our garden pond, Bucks, UK.

It is about 2/3 the size of a common newt and barely moved even with a light shining on it.

Any ideas what it is?

MSA · Tuesday 20th March 2012, 13:02

It's a new newt! Palmated I'd guess.

Welsh Peregrine · Tuesday 20th March 2012, 14:33

Late larval newt as it still has external gills - although at least some of the British newts can be neotenic - ie. reach sexual maturity while still in a larval body form.

gareth_blockley · Tuesday 20th March 2012, 23:03

It's a pretty interesting record. Well worth contacting your local Amphibian group about.

Gareth

King Edward · Wednesday 21st March 2012, 12:51

I think this looks like a neotenic newt (presumably Smooth Newt, if that's what you have), rather than an ordinary overwintering larva. The Shire Books volume 'Newts of the British Isles' has some information on this - apparently neoteny is often associated with albinism (as in this case) as a consequence of damage to the pituitary gland.

It would also be worth trying to get some better photos of it, including a side view which would require you to photograph it in a tank (using pond water, not tap water which could be harmful). As Gareth says, worth contacting a local group about.

Tuesday 20th March 2012, 11:18	#1
Johnr27uk Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: london Posts: 22	Is this a newt, Bucks, UK? Took this photo last night in our garden pond, Bucks, UK. It is about 2/3 the size of a common newt and barely moved even with a light shining on it. Any ideas what it is? Attached Thumbnails

Tuesday 20th March 2012, 13:02	#2
MSA I may be relaxed but I'm not drunk.... Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 2,566	It's a new newt! Palmated I'd guess. __________________ Mark I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself. A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough without ever having felt sorry for itself. (DH Lawrence) http://www.chog.org.uk
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Tuesday 20th March 2012, 14:33	#3
Welsh Peregrine Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Birkenhead Posts: 416	Late larval newt as it still has external gills - although at least some of the British newts can be neotenic - ie. reach sexual maturity while still in a larval body form.

Tuesday 20th March 2012, 23:03	#4
gareth_blockley Smile people Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire Posts: 1,599	It's a pretty interesting record. Well worth contacting your local Amphibian group about. Gareth

Wednesday 21st March 2012, 12:51	#5
King Edward Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Herefordshire Posts: 251	I think this looks like a neotenic newt (presumably Smooth Newt, if that's what you have), rather than an ordinary overwintering larva. The Shire Books volume 'Newts of the British Isles' has some information on this - apparently neoteny is often associated with albinism (as in this case) as a consequence of damage to the pituitary gland. It would also be worth trying to get some better photos of it, including a side view which would require you to photograph it in a tank (using pond water, not tap water which could be harmful). As Gareth says, worth contacting a local group about.

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