Triturus
Encyclopedia
Triturus is a genus of newt
, commonly known as the crested or marbled newts, depending on the species. They are found across most of Europe, parts of Russia and the Middle East. The genus includes the Great Crested Newt
, the Italian Crested Newt
, the Danube Crested Newt
, the Southern Crested Newt
, the Marbled Newt
and the Pygmy or Southern Marbled Newt
.
spend most of the year ashore only visiting the water in the breeding season for reproduction. Triturus exhibits the most complex courting ritual of all the newts. After performing a courtship display
, the male deposits a spermatophore
(a small packet of sperm) in the path of the female. He then moves sideways in front of the female to gently encourage and move her into a position where the spermatophore will be pressed against, and picked up by, her cloaca
(reproductive and kidney opening). The female lays two or three eggs a day between March and mid July, until 200–300 eggs have been laid. The eggs are laid on submerged aquatic plant
s, and carefully wrapped in leaves. The larvae hatch after about 3 weeks and metamorphose
into air-breathing juveniles about 4 months later. Great Crested Newts become sexually mature adults between two and three years of age.
, has been classified eighteen different ways, and likewise the Marbled Newt
. Triturus has recently been split into four genera: Lissotriton
for the small bodied species (formerly T. boscai, T. helveticus, T. italicus, T. montandoni and T. vulgaris), Ommatotriton
for the banded newts (formerly T. ophryticus and T. vittatus), Mesotriton or Ichthyosaura (containing only the Alpine Newt
, formerly T. alpestris) and the remainder remain in Triturus.
Newt
A newt is an aquatic amphibian of the family Salamandridae, although not all aquatic salamanders are considered newts. Newts are classified in the subfamily Pleurodelinae of the family Salamandridae, and are found in North America, Europe and Asia...
, commonly known as the crested or marbled newts, depending on the species. They are found across most of Europe, parts of Russia and the Middle East. The genus includes the Great Crested Newt
Great Crested Newt
The Great Crested Newt, also called Northern Crested Newt or Warty Newt is a newt in the family Salamandridae, found across Europe and parts of Asia.-Distribution:...
, the Italian Crested Newt
Italian Crested Newt
The Italian Crested Newt is a species of newt in the family Salamandridae.It is found in Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands...
, the Danube Crested Newt
Danube Crested Newt
The Danube Crested Newt is a species of salamander in the Salamandridae family.It is found in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Ukraine, and possibly Slovenia.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate...
, the Southern Crested Newt
Southern Crested Newt
The Southern Crested Newt is a terrestrial European newt. It is similar to the Great Crested Newt except larger and more robust.- Physical Characteristics :...
, the Marbled Newt
Marbled Newt
The Marbled Newt is a mainly terrestrial newt native to Europe.-Physical description:Marbled newts have dark brown or black bodies with irregular patterns of green. They have black bellies with off-white specks. Adult females have an orange stripe running down the back from the head to the tip of...
and the Pygmy or Southern Marbled Newt
Southern Marbled Newt
The Southern Marbled Newt or Pygmy Marbled Newt is a species of salamander in the Salamandridae family.It is found in Portugal and Spain....
.
Behaviour
Members of this genusGenus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
spend most of the year ashore only visiting the water in the breeding season for reproduction. Triturus exhibits the most complex courting ritual of all the newts. After performing a courtship display
Courtship display
Courtship display is a special, sometimes ritualised, set of behaviours which some animals perform as part of courtship. Courtship behaviours can include special calls, postures, and movements, and may involve special plumage, bright colours or other ornamentation. A good example is the 'dancing'...
, the male deposits a spermatophore
Spermatophore
A spermatophore or sperm ampulla is a capsule or mass created by males of various animal species, containing spermatozoa and transferred in entirety to the female's ovipore during copulation...
(a small packet of sperm) in the path of the female. He then moves sideways in front of the female to gently encourage and move her into a position where the spermatophore will be pressed against, and picked up by, her cloaca
Cloaca
In zoological anatomy, a cloaca is the posterior opening that serves as the only such opening for the intestinal, reproductive, and urinary tracts of certain animal species...
(reproductive and kidney opening). The female lays two or three eggs a day between March and mid July, until 200–300 eggs have been laid. The eggs are laid on submerged aquatic plant
Aquatic plant
Aquatic plants are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environments. They are also referred to as hydrophytes or aquatic macrophytes. These plants require special adaptations for living submerged in water, or at the water's surface. Aquatic plants can only grow in water or in soil that is...
s, and carefully wrapped in leaves. The larvae hatch after about 3 weeks and metamorphose
Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and differentiation...
into air-breathing juveniles about 4 months later. Great Crested Newts become sexually mature adults between two and three years of age.
Taxonomy
The genus Triturus is a problem for taxonomists. One member, the Southern Crested NewtSouthern Crested Newt
The Southern Crested Newt is a terrestrial European newt. It is similar to the Great Crested Newt except larger and more robust.- Physical Characteristics :...
, has been classified eighteen different ways, and likewise the Marbled Newt
Marbled Newt
The Marbled Newt is a mainly terrestrial newt native to Europe.-Physical description:Marbled newts have dark brown or black bodies with irregular patterns of green. They have black bellies with off-white specks. Adult females have an orange stripe running down the back from the head to the tip of...
. Triturus has recently been split into four genera: Lissotriton
Lissotriton
Lissotriton is a genus of salamandrid newts that occur in Europe.-Species:*Bosca's Newt *Palmate Newt *Italian Newt *Carpathian Newt...
for the small bodied species (formerly T. boscai, T. helveticus, T. italicus, T. montandoni and T. vulgaris), Ommatotriton
Ommatotriton
Ommatotriton or Banded Newts is a genus of salamander in the Salamandridae family. It currently contains two species:*Northern Banded Newt *Southern Banded Newt...
for the banded newts (formerly T. ophryticus and T. vittatus), Mesotriton or Ichthyosaura (containing only the Alpine Newt
Alpine Newt
The Alpine Newt is a newt of the Salamander order Caudata in the class of Amphibians.-Description:...
, formerly T. alpestris) and the remainder remain in Triturus.