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Palmate newt crawling over a branch

Palmate newt

Palmate newts are confined to Western Europe, but are absent from Ireland. It is said that the name ‘palmate’ is derived from of the appearance of the newt’s feet, the skin between its toes looking like the palm of a hand. They hibernate from November to late February/March, usually beneath stones or compost heaps, although young adults may hibernate in the mud of pond beds. On coming out of hibernation they migrate over land to breeding sites. The 8mm-long larvae hatch within two to three weeks and metamorphose to become air-breathing juveniles after six weeks.

How to identify UK amphibians.

Scientific name: Lissotriton helveticus

Rank: Species

Distribution

The Palmate newt can be found in a number of locations including: Europe, United Kingdom, Wales. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.

Habitats

The following habitats are found across the Palmate newt distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.

Behaviours

Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.

Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web

About

The palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus) is a species of newt found in most of Western Europe, including Great Britain. It is protected by law in all countries where it occurs, and is thought to be extremely rare to endangered in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, and vulnerable in Spain and Poland, but common elsewhere.

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