Field Notes
No. 03
No. 03
Common smooth newt
12th August 2026
Look who's arrived in our pond!
At a glance
SpeciesCommon Smooth Newt
Latin nameLissotriton vulgaris
FamilySalamandridae
Size7–11cm
HabitatGarden ponds, grassland and woodland; UK's most common newt species
Key facts
- Breeds in water in spring and summer, then spends the rest of the year on land, hibernating over winter
- Spotty throat distinguishes it from the similar Palmate Newt, which has an unspotted throat
- Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
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