What's this thing then?

'92 Si VTEC · Post by **jjmartin349571** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:23 pm

Just let my dogs out for their bedtime body lemonade and noticed that one of them was eyeing something up to eat on the patio. It's pissing with rain and I assumed it was a slug, so I went over and dragged him off it. In doing so I spotted that the 'thing' he found had legs. It wasn't moving so I assumed it was dead and picked it up - think it must just have been chilly though as it's perked up now:

Any ideas what it is?? I can't tell if he's a lizard or a newt. I'm inclined to say lizard, due to him being lethargic when cold?

One for @Donald maybe.

Also any ideas what I should do with him? He's perked up now but I don't want to inadvertently condemn him to death by chucking him back outdoors. I know it's natures way and all but I have a soft spot for reptiles and amphibians

Post by **Pushki** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:30 pm

Newt!!

Put him in a pond.

Post by **Donald** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:31 pm

That's a smooth newt, Lissotron vulgaris.

Lizards have scales

'92 Si VTEC · Post by **jjmartin349571** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:32 pm

Just had a look at some pics, is it a smooth newt?

What do I need to do with it, I'm guessing the patio is not where it would ideally like to live

'92 Si VTEC · Post by **jjmartin349571** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:33 pm

Donald wrote:That's a smooth newt, Lissotron vulgaris.

Lizards have scales

Ah you got there first

I'm long sighted and he's tiny, I couldn't see if he had scales

'92 Si VTEC · Post by **jjmartin349571** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:33 pm

Pushki wrote:Newt!!
Put him in a pond.

I don't have a pond

Post by **Donald** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:37 pm

You'd be lucky to catch a lizard out at this hour, at least a UK species. Like you say it's cold, plus we only have three lizard species, slow worm, common lizard, and the sand lizard which is endangered. So out of the three the most likely would be the common lizard, quite recognisable:

Plus with lizards you can see their ear holes.

Fun fact, the common lizard's latin name is Lacerta vivipara, which should give you a clue about its young

Post by **Donald** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:40 pm

jjmartin349571 wrote:What do I need to do with it, I'm guessing the patio is not where it would ideally like to live

Just put it outside, the entire population doesn't die off in the cold over winter otherwise we wouldn't see them year on year

You got a log pile or something somewhere? I've found nests of them before hiding up in a damp log pile.

'92 Si VTEC · Post by **jjmartin349571** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:45 pm

I'll have a look outside, I hacked a load of garden stuff up and left it in a pile so I might turn him loose there. Decomposing lawn trimmings can provide him with warmth

Post by **Donald** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:48 pm

It'll be fine, I imagine there must be a pond nearby somewhere!

I have to post this otherwise it wont go away and I'll be awake all night:

Lizards have 5 toes on each front leg, newts have 4.
Newt tadpoles develop their front legs first, frogs and toads back legs first.