Wildlife
Great crested newts are Britain’s largest newt species. Although now afforded some legal protection in the UK, populations have declined over recent years as a result of the destruction and fragmentation of their habitat.
How to identify UK amphibians.
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Getting to know your newts
Martin Hughes-Games goes on a night survey to look for the great crested newt.
Martin Hughes-Games goes out on a night survey to look for the great crested newt.
Flamboyant fathers
A rise in water temperature puts newts in the mood for mating.
For great crested newts, mating is triggered by the spring rise in water temperature. The male fans his impressive, coloured tail and wafts pheremone scents over the female who finally accepts his advances. The female then lays her eggs on the underside of a leaf. In time, these will hatch into newt tadpoles.
Great newts
Bill compares great crested newts to their smaller cousins.
Bill compares great crested newts to their smaller cousins.
Ice age home
Great crested newts hole up in an ancient pingo.
Great crested newts hole up in an ancient pingo.
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.
The Great crested newt can be found in a number of locations including: Asia, Europe, Russia, United Kingdom, Wales. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Great crested newt distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Population trend: Decreasing
Year assessed: 2008
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The northern crested newt, also known as the great crested newt or warty newt (Triturus cristatus) is a newt in the family Salamandridae, found across Europe and parts of Asia.
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Farmland
Brownfield land
Lakes and ponds
Taiga
Broadleaf forest
Coniferous forest
Temperate grassland
Tundra
Urban
Temporary pools
Wetlands
Migration
Adapted to swimming
Camouflage
Carnivorous
Courtship display
Metamorphosis
Nocturnal
Egg layer
Active at birth
Predator
Chemical communication
Visual communication