TRITURUS CRISTATUS (CRESTED NEWT)

Contents hide

1) Classification of Triturus Cristatus (Crested Newt)

2) Geographical distribution

3) Habit and habitat

4) General Characteristics

5) Ecological Importance

6) Conservation Status

7) Special features

8) Identification

Classification of Triturus Cristatus (Crested Newt)

Phylum :- Chordata (Dorsal tubular nerve cord, notochord and gill-slits present.)
Group :- Craniata (Definite head, Cranium with brain present.)
Sub phylum :- Vertebrata (Vertebral column present.)
Division :- Gnathostomata (Jaws and paired appendages present.)
Super Class :- Tetrapoda (Paired limbs, lungs, cornified skin and bony skeleton.)
Class :- Amphibia (Cold blooded. Scaleless glandular skin. Can live in water and land. Two occipital condyles, Heart three chambered)
Order :- Urodela (Scaleless Amphibia having well developed tail, generally with two limbs, with or without external gills and gill-slits in adults.)
Family :- Salamandroidea (Adults without gills. Lungs present)
Genus :- Triturus
Species :- cristatus

Geographical distribution

Triturus is distributed in U.S.A. from California to Southern Alaska and Europe. Eocene to Recent.

Habit and habitat

Triturus is terrestrial.

General Characteristics

Commonly called as European Crested Newt.
Body is elongated and cylindrical and divided into head, trunk and tail.
Skin is soft and slimy without scales.
Head is conical and compressed containing wide mouth and small nostrils. Eyes are small with upper arid lower eyelids. Tympanum and eardrum absent.
Tail is elongated, thick and provided with dorsal and ventral fins without fin rays.
Forelimbs and hind limbs are well developed. The former bear four, and the latter five fingers.
Girdles and sternum primitive. Vertebrae opisthocoelus.
Gills are absent; respiration by skin and lungs.
Alimentary canal, excretory duct and gonadial ducts open into the cloaca.
It exhibits marked sexual dimorphism. Male develops crest on the back and becomes brilliantly
coloured in breeding season. Larval stage is provided with three pairs of gills which are lost in the adult.

Triturus cristatus, commonly known as the Crested Newt, is a species of amphibian native to Europe. It is one of the largest newts in the continent and is distinguished by its distinctive dorsal crest, which is most prominent during the breeding season. Crested newts typically inhabit ponds and marshes during the breeding season and spend the rest of their lives in damp, terrestrial environments such as woodlands, grasslands, and heathlands. They are protected in many countries due to their declining numbers and habitat loss.

Ecological Importance

Regulation of Invertebrate Populations: Crested newts help control the populations of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, including small insects, worms, and crustaceans. This contributes to the balance of their ecosystem.
Biodiversity Maintenance: The presence of crested newts indicates a healthy and biodiverse ecosystem. Their breeding habitats, such as ponds and wetlands, also support a variety of other species, including aquatic plants, amphibians, birds, and fish.
Food Web Contributions: As both prey and predator, crested newts play an important role in the food chain. They are preyed upon by birds, mammals, and larger fish, while they themselves are predators of smaller aquatic organisms.
Bioindicator Species: Crested newts are sensitive to environmental changes, especially habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. They are often used as bioindicators to assess the health of freshwater ecosystems.
Wetland Ecosystem Health: By inhabiting wetlands and marshes, crested newts contribute to the health of these ecosystems, promoting water quality and the growth of wetland plants.

Conservation Status

The conservation status varies by region, but it is generally considered to be at risk due to several factors:

IUCN Red List Status: The crested newt is listed as Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. While its population is stable in some areas, it is declining in others due to habitat destruction and fragmentation.
Threats to the Species:
- Habitat Loss: Destruction and degradation of wetlands, forests, and other habitats due to urbanization, agriculture, and drainage of wetlands pose a significant threat to the crested newt’s survival.
- Pollution: The pollution of freshwater habitats, including pesticides and fertilizers, negatively affects water quality, which is detrimental to amphibians like the crested newt.
- Climate Change: Climate change may alter the availability and quality of breeding ponds and increase the risk of extreme weather events that can affect the survival of larvae.
- Invasive Species: The introduction of non-native species, such as fish or other predators, can disrupt the crested newt’s life cycle and food availability.
Conservation Efforts: In many countries, the crested newt is a protected species under national and international conservation laws. Conservation efforts include habitat restoration, protection of breeding sites, and mitigation of environmental threats like pollution. In some areas, breeding programs and translocation efforts are being carried out to maintain population stability.
Protected Areas: The species benefits from being found in many protected areas, such as nature reserves and wildlife parks, where conservation measures can be implemented to ensure their survival

Special features

Breeding Crest: Male crested newts develop a jagged, crest-like structure on their back and tail during the breeding season, which is used to attract females. This crest is a defining characteristic of the species.
Vivid Coloration: They possess a dark, almost black coloration with a bright orange or yellow underside, often speckled with black spots. This coloration is a form of aposematic coloring, warning predators of their toxicity.
Toxic Skin Secretions: Crested newts produce toxic secretions from their skin as a defense mechanism. These toxins help deter predators, making the newts unpalatable or even harmful if consumed.
Aquatic and Terrestrial Adaptation: Crested newts have adapted to both aquatic and terrestrial environments. They have an aquatic larval stage, where they live in ponds, and a terrestrial adult stage, where they seek out cool, damp areas like woodlands.
Long Lifespan: These newts can live for up to 12 years, giving them a long life to reproduce multiple times during their lifetime. Their slow growth and maturity rate contribute to their longer lifespan.