Great crested newt by Karl Charters 1/4
Female great crested newt at Heydon Park by Rob Peacock 2/4
Great crested newt at Thetford by Vernon Conie 3/4
Great crested newt at Thetford by Vernon Conie 4/4

Great crested newt Triurus cristatus

This threatened creature has suffered a massive decline and is now legally protected. It can be easily identified as it is our largest newt and the males have vivid breeding colours. They are fond of Norfolk’s wetland habitats and can be found in central and south-east Norfolk. The courtship display is an extravagant affair; with the male standing up on his front legs with his back arched waving his tail.

Conservation status

Threatened. Because of the massive decline in their numbers the great crested newt is now legally protected and is a priority species under the UK’s biodiversity action plan. It is illegal to catch, possess or handle them without a licence or to cause them any harm or disturb their habitat in any way. A reduction in the water table, in-filling for development, neglect, and the stocking of ponds with fish, has caused a reduction in the number of ponds suitable for breeding.

Related questions & advice

What should I do if I find a great crested newt in my pond?
Can amphibians and fish live together?
If you translocate a newt to another pond will it go back to the ancestral pond?
What are the differences between newt species?

Details

Did you know?

Newts can regenerate limbs and toes if they are damaged or lost.

Newts feature in many a witches’ brew including most famously in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

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