Anybody know what this is?

[Killian]

[willj]

is it a wild animal? or is it a new addition to your collection. if it's wild then it can only be l. vulgaris as that is the only lissotriton in ireland. but if i were to guess i'd say either montadoni or helveticus

[Killian]

I am not sure, I was sent the picture asking if I knew what it was. I know nothing else about the animal

[willj]

it's a helveticus according to some friends

[BenJT]

If it's from Ireland can only be lissotriton vulgarus as that's Ireland's only native newt. You can eliminate a male helveticus because it has no dark webbing on its hind feet. If it's not from ireland and it's a female then there'smno real way of telling unless you see the underside of the neck, or it's too large to be a helveticus.

[Killian]

Photographed in France

[willj]

again it can only be helveticus or vulgaris, i'm sticking with helveticus.

Ben, this could well be a juvinile so it won't show any adult characteristics

[BenJT]

Another way of distinguishing between the two is by habitat, helveticus breeds in and is found around more acidic and often marshier bodies of water at higher altitudes, vulgarus is found at lower altitudes and nuetral to higher PH bodies of water.

[willj]

but again it's not a reliable method unless your on the moors when they will in all probability be helveticus

[Pollywog]

I can confirm that it is a L.helveticus. The dorsal stripe is of equal intensity down the length of the body, in L.vulgaris it is more prominent at the base of the head and then fades as it goes down the back. The easiest way to tell them apart is of course to view the throat of the animal.