Smooth Newt
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{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Smooth Newt
| image = Smooth newt.JPG
| image_width = 250px
| status = Conservation status: Lower risk (lc)
| regnum = Animalia
| phylum = Chordata
| classis = Lissamphibia
| ordo = Caudata
| familia = Salamandridae
| genus = Lissotriton
| species = L. vulgaris
| binomial = Lissotriton vulgaris
| binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision =
L. vulgaris ampelensis
L. vulgaris graecus
L. vulgaris kosswigi
L. vulgaris lantzi
L. vulgaris meridionalis
L. vulgaris schmidtlerorum
L. vulgaris vulgaris
}}
The Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) is the most common newt species of the Lissotriton genus. It is found throughout Europe except the far north and the Iberian peninsula. The smooth newt can grow up to 10 cm long. There is a difference between the male and the female: the male is brown with spots, and the female is plain brown. The male has a wavy crest along the back and tail, when in breeding condition. Newts have a tadpole stage- tadpoles look like adult newts, but have feathery gills on each side of their head.
Newts are protected in Europe. There are laws prohibiting the killing, destruction, and the selling of newts. While the species is by no means endangered, IUCN lists insufficent data to make an assessment for two of the subspecies.
External links
Template:Commonsbg:Малък гребенест тритон cs:Čolek obecný da:Lille vandsalamander (Triturus vulgaris) de:Teichmolch fr:Triton ponctué lt:Paprastasis tritonas nl:Kleine watersalamander no:Liten salamander pl:Traszka zwyczajna fi:Vesilisko sv:Mindre vattensalamander