A Year in the Life of a Great Crested Newt

Great Crested Newt

Great Crested Newts (GCNs) (Triturus cristatus) hibernate from October to February, in their terrestrial phase.  Hibernation sites could be under logs, piles of leaves, and holes in the ground within areas of rough grassland, scrub, and woodland.  The end of their hibernation period is entirely weather dependant, as GCNs will only emerge when the temperature is above 5 degrees celcius. In the winter, if the weather is mild enough the newts may emerge from their hibernation for short periods to forage.

During March many GCNs start moving from their terrestrial habitats to their aquatic habitats.  They are normally ponds with a neutral pH, with a preference for larger ponds or small lakes with no fish or waterfowl present.  GCNs will feed on frogspawn and tadpoles at this point in the year.

GCN breeding pond

The male GCNs will then begin their breeding behaviour, including an elaborate courtship display.  This occurs overnight at the bottom of a pond in a clear area, often in the shallows.  The male swims near the female, flashing his tail which features the prominent silver stripe and nudging her as he swims.  The male also stands on his front legs with an arched back while he waves his tail around, in front of the female.  If the female is open to breeding, the male transfers a gelatinous jelly cone with a sperm cap, called a spermatophore.  The male deposits it for the female to collect.

Between March and June, female GCNs lay their eggs.  A female GCN is able to lay between 200 to 300 eggs in total, often laying 2 or 3 at once.  With her hind legs the female will individually wrap the eggs in leaves found in the pond or overhanging vegetation.  Wrapping the eggs is thought to be a way to protect the eggs from predation and UV damage.

GCN egg folded on a leaf on the pond edge

GCNs finish breeding and laying their eggs in June, with the adults leaving the ponds and not returning to breed again until the following year.  During hot dry weather in the summer adults will shelter in damp, dark areas.

GCN searching for a damp, dark area to shelter

After four weeks GCN eggs will hatch as a larva, then growing limbs after six weeks, with fore limbs growing before the hind limbs and becomes an eft.  After a further three to four months, the efts will develop into juveniles and are able to leave the water.  The young newts will spend one to three years on land until they become sexually mature and return to their aquatic habitats to breed.

In July to September, the metamorphosis is complete (taking four to five months), individuals are now seen to be darker with black spotting, and they are ready to leave the water. Eggs that are laid-late in the breeding period will sometimes overwinter in the ponds as larva.

In the autumn GCNs will feed on insects, slugs, and spiders, building energy reserves for the winter.  They will also seek out suitable hibernation sites ready to begin hibernation in October.  

If you would like to know more about GCNs or you require any advice regarding GCNs, our team of specialist GCN ecologists are happy to help, so please contact us here.