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What are these beautiful chaps?

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caseyk View Drop Down
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    Posted: 09 Sep 2014 at 6:06pm

Hi,

Whilst demolishing an old coal bunker I found these two beautiful creatures. How they managed to escape the skip and the bricks I don’t know. I put them in a quiet area of the garden after taking the photos.

Very grateful if anyone can tell me what they are.

Thanks,
Chris


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caseyk View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote caseyk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2014 at 9:51am
More photos:

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Suzy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Suzy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2014 at 12:13pm
Lovely! They're newts, possibly great cresteds - but someone more newt-wise will likely post and tell you exactly what they are.
Suz
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will View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote will Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2014 at 12:21pm
I'd say smooth newts Lissotriton vulgaris, when they are not in the water the skin becomes a lovely velvety texture, as shown in your photo. You did the right thing with them, and hopefully they will turn up to breed in the nearest suitable pond next spring!
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Suzy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Suzy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2014 at 8:27pm
I did think they weren't grainy enough looking on their skin, but was fooled by their dark colour!
Suz
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caseyk View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote caseyk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2014 at 9:05pm
Fantastic, many thanks to all! I will be keeping an eye out for more now.
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GemmaJF View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GemmaJF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2014 at 9:54pm
I'm with Will smooth newts, a male and a female. The one with the large dark blotches on the belly is a male, the other female.

Will wouldn't have seen the new pictures of the bellies when he posted, so excellent ID work from him based on just the first picture Thumbs Up


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote will Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Sep 2014 at 6:38am
thanks Gemma - more evidence (as if needed) of my sad and lonely misspent youth..
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