Rodbaston IHS show

[CrazyHedgehog]

OK, I was very good, I sold quite a few of my babies, and didn't buy any more snakes!
oh I did buy this little girl though!


I already have 1 female, and was looking for a male however they seem fine together..sorry poor photos, but its hard through water!

Italian Crested newt (Triurus cristatus )

[Stefan-A]

The Italian crested newt is Triturus carnifex. T. cristatus is the "Great Crested Newt, Northern Crested Newt, Crested Newt".

Useful link: Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe

Anyway, it looks great.

[CrazyHedgehog]

hmmm... thats interesting..
As they were sold in different places, both as Italian crested newts but also with Triturus cristatus!

They are a little different though, and i wondered now if the one I had first isn't a male..as it has a definate white stripe down its tail...maybe too young for the crest? what do you think? i can't get a good photo of the new ones tail but it is much narrower than the first..

[adamanteus]

T. cristatus is indeed what we in the UK call the Great Crested Newt.

[Stefan-A]

T. cristatus is indeed what we in the UK call the Great Crested Newt.

We call it "protected".

Edit: meh, had to change the status..

[adamanteus]

T. cristatus is totally protected in the UK.... Luckily, the beast in the photo is not T. cristatus!

[CrazyHedgehog]

I did have a bit of a panic, but the newts do look more like the pics I can find of Triturus carnifex..
Phew

Aparently the Italian newt is living in parts of britain, but because it is so close in family it will happily breed with our crested newt, you have to be careful not to allow any escapees!!! don't want to water down the species!