Anyone know what this is?

[wellyphant]

I was doing a bit of fell walking the other day and i stopped for a short rest near a small lake.The lake is called low water,at the base of Brim fell near coniston old man.While i was taking a few snapshots i saw something swimming on the surface.At first i thought it was some kind of insect larva as it was only about 3/4" long but as it had a fish like swimming style i decided against that.Looking at the photos it looks like some sort of lizard but one so small??any ideas anyone??

Here's a closer shot a bit blurred due to using my zoom

[Jack81]

Looks the right colour and size for a smooth newt. Never seen one swimming on the surface like that though so maybe it is a little lizard. Time to do some googling.....

[Brian Carragher]

Its a Newt

[Jack81]

Reptiles and Amphibians of the uk:

 

http://geography.wincoll.ac.uk/jjcskw/page...ukherptiles.htm

 

Looks like the newt rather than the wall lizard to me.

 

Saw a couple of large Grass Snakes on a walk along the River Gipping last week. Beautiful creatures.

[wellyphant]

Its a Newt

I looked on a British reptile and amphibian site and it does look like a smooth newt but this was tiny and swimming on the surface.Also the lake(tarn)doesn't seem consistent with a smooth newts ideal Habitat,,ie bogs,marshes and woodland.Having said that Brian,,so far it's looking like a newt.

Edited August 29, 2010 by wellyphant

[Tigger]

It's a dry newt(female). If you find one under a stone and throw it into water it'll usually float like that until it gets wet propper.

Edited August 29, 2010 by Tigger

[dapper64]

I looked on a British reptile and amphibian site and it does look like a smooth newt but this was tiny and swimming on the surface.Also the lake(tarn)doesn't seem consistent with a smooth newts ideal Habitat,,ie bogs,marshes and woodland.Having said that Brian,,so far it's looking like a newt.

it could have been too small to break the water surface film.

[Janet]

Certainly looks like a newt to me...

 

 

This one swam on the surface for ages...just as yours looks to be doing.

 

They seem to be very few and far between these days, although I remember seeing loads when I was a kiddie.

 

Janet

[Worms]

Definitely a 'dry' newt (in terretrial mode) but could be a palmate or smooth!

[Renrag39]

Just got the image of a newt power ranger! Terrestrial Mode. GO! Aquatic Mode! GO! Then they all gang up into a giant killer newt and go on the rampage...

Sorry i shared that, think I've had a bit too much sugar today!

 

Nice to see them tho. Haven't seen one for a while myself.

 

Renrag