There are 4 other species of newts in France: crested, marbled, palmate and spotted. This small amphibian belongs to the urodeles family, just like the salamanders (amphibians with tails, unlike the frogs and toads which are anurans).
Its name "alpine" comes from the fact that it is found at high altitudes, particularly in the Alps up to 3000m!
The newt is considered to be mainly nocturnal; it hunts and feeds mainly at night, migrates and breeds at night. Like all amphibians, it alternates its cycles between terrestrial and aquatic life.
More at ease in the water than on land, it may also hunt during the day in the aquatic phase. It feeds on small invertebrates: worms, insects and even the eggs or larvae of other amphibians.
The alpine newt can be recognised by its orange coloration under the belly and bluish on the sides, with small black-brown spots. Females, on the other hand, are less colourful.
In the spring, during reproduction, individuals moult to lose their rough skin adapted to life on land and acquire a smooth skin allowing them to breathe in the water.
The orange ventral coloration of the males intensifies and becomes particularly visible to the females when they float on the surface of the pools. They also develop a small dorsal and caudal crest (though not as impressive as that of the great crested newt!), which allows it to increase the surface area for breathing through the skin. To seduce females, the male releases pheromones into the water and then undulates his tail to diffuse them and attract them to him. Mating takes place exclusively in an aquatic environment and at night: the male deposits a small bundle of spermatozoa in the cloaca of the female, who then lays her eggs on leaves underwater, which she folds up to protect them.
The fertilised eggs, which will not be eaten by the many predators (insects, birds, fish, etc.), hatch after 2 weeks (sometimes more when the temperature is low), then spend between 2 and 3 months in the larval stage before the final metamorphosis.
The alpine newt spends its winters in a rather terrestrial environment, in forests or on the plains, but is never far from a watering place. As it cannot dig with its feet, it buries itself under stones or in small rodent burrows.
In extremely low temperatures, the growth rate is so slow that the larvae are too small to metamorphose before winter and therefore hibernate in the water in the larval stage, until the next season or even the one after that! This state can last for so long that the individuals are considered to be adults that have kept their gills and can even reproduce! This is called noetenia.
This species is protected in France and in most European countries, like all amphibians, under Annex III of the Bern Convention.
It is found in the north-eastern half of France as well as in central Europe and the Mediterranean belt of the Balkans.
It is quite easily found in spring in forest pools where it is easier to spot than when it hides in terrestrial areas. It is obviously forbidden to take it or destroy its habitat or eggs.
References :
https://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/vie-sauvage/triton_alpestre/184876
https://www.aujardin.info/fiches/triton-entre-terre-eau.php
https://www.salamandre.org/article/exil-triton-armure-rouillee/
Its name "alpine" comes from the fact that it is found at high altitudes, particularly in the Alps up to 3000m!
The newt is considered to be mainly nocturnal; it hunts and feeds mainly at night, migrates and breeds at night. Like all amphibians, it alternates its cycles between terrestrial and aquatic life.
More at ease in the water than on land, it may also hunt during the day in the aquatic phase. It feeds on small invertebrates: worms, insects and even the eggs or larvae of other amphibians.
The alpine newt can be recognised by its orange coloration under the belly and bluish on the sides, with small black-brown spots. Females, on the other hand, are less colourful.
In the spring, during reproduction, individuals moult to lose their rough skin adapted to life on land and acquire a smooth skin allowing them to breathe in the water.
The orange ventral coloration of the males intensifies and becomes particularly visible to the females when they float on the surface of the pools. They also develop a small dorsal and caudal crest (though not as impressive as that of the great crested newt!), which allows it to increase the surface area for breathing through the skin. To seduce females, the male releases pheromones into the water and then undulates his tail to diffuse them and attract them to him. Mating takes place exclusively in an aquatic environment and at night: the male deposits a small bundle of spermatozoa in the cloaca of the female, who then lays her eggs on leaves underwater, which she folds up to protect them.
The fertilised eggs, which will not be eaten by the many predators (insects, birds, fish, etc.), hatch after 2 weeks (sometimes more when the temperature is low), then spend between 2 and 3 months in the larval stage before the final metamorphosis.
The alpine newt spends its winters in a rather terrestrial environment, in forests or on the plains, but is never far from a watering place. As it cannot dig with its feet, it buries itself under stones or in small rodent burrows.
In extremely low temperatures, the growth rate is so slow that the larvae are too small to metamorphose before winter and therefore hibernate in the water in the larval stage, until the next season or even the one after that! This state can last for so long that the individuals are considered to be adults that have kept their gills and can even reproduce! This is called noetenia.
This species is protected in France and in most European countries, like all amphibians, under Annex III of the Bern Convention.
It is found in the north-eastern half of France as well as in central Europe and the Mediterranean belt of the Balkans.
It is quite easily found in spring in forest pools where it is easier to spot than when it hides in terrestrial areas. It is obviously forbidden to take it or destroy its habitat or eggs.
References :
https://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/vie-sauvage/triton_alpestre/184876
https://www.aujardin.info/fiches/triton-entre-terre-eau.php
https://www.salamandre.org/article/exil-triton-armure-rouillee/
