Earlier this week we talked about the Rough Skinned Newt, so I think it is only fair to end the week with the appropriately named, Smooth Newt. This little amphibian is also known as the Common Newt and they happen to be one of the most common newts throughout Europe. Only Iberia, Southern France, Southern Italy and the Mediterranean Islands are missing this cute little salamander. The Common Newt can even be found in Russia and parts of Asia so apparently they are not afraid to travel. Well, it looks like we are heading to Europe to explore the Smooth Newt so grab your plane ticket and lets go see what we can learn about this amphibian.

On the Move

Outside of their breeding season, the Smooth Newt can be found in a variety of habitats including deciduous forests, bogs, marshes, parks, farmlands and you may even spot them hanging out in your personal garden. Basically, they are just looking for a nice damp place to sit back and relax in. During breeding season, which occurs in early spring, the Common Newt spends the majority of their time in or around standing bodies of water such as ponds, lakes and even roadside ditches. Nothing says romance like dirty ditch water!

A Magical Transformation

During mating season, both the males and females transform from a brownish-green, dull colour into a magnificent brownish-green colour. Okay, maybe their transformation isn’t that spectacular but their spots do become more prominent. As well, the males develop a nice wavy crest from head to tail, which must go a long way with impressing the ladies. It is important that the Smooth Newt doesn’t get too attached to their skin since as they grow they pretty much shed it every week. I would be upset if I spent all kinds of energy transforming my dull skin into a slightly less dull skin only to lose it in a week!

License to Kill

The average lifespan for the Common Newt is roughly 5 years, however, some individuals have been known to live up to 20 years. I would think it is impossible for a Smooth Newt to live this long in the wild but there is legislation out there helping them live a little longer. For example, in Ireland, it is illegal to capture or kill a newt without a permit. This makes a lot of sense, considering the Smooth Newt is the only newt species found in Ireland so I guess they would want to do everything in their power to protect the little amphibian.