Alpine Newt
Alpine newt is a species of newt found in Central and Southern Europe. There are ten recognized subspecies of this species.
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Amphibia |
Order | Caudata |
Suborder | Salamandroidea |
Family | Salamandridae |
Genus | Ichthyosaura |
Scientific Name | Ichthyosaura alpestris |
Size | Male: Up to 9 cm Female: Up to 12 cm |
Color | Mottled brown; during the mating season, males display dark-blue coloring on the upper surface while the sides have black-white spotted stripes below sky-blue stripes and bright orange bellies |
Distribution | Central and Southern Europe; United Kingdom (introduced) |
Habitat | Thick deciduous forests with good availability of water in hilly to mountainous regions; also found in natural gardens and parkland |
Diet | Insects, worms |
Predators | Birds, snakes |
Breeding Season | End of winter or beginning of summer |
Mode of Reproduction | Oviparous (egg laying) |
Clutch Size | 30 to 500 eggs |
Incubation Period | 10 to 30 days |
Reproductive Age | 3 to 4 years of age |
Average Lifespan | 15 to 20 years |
IUCN Conservation Status | Least Concern |