The Palmate Newt is the smallest amphibian in England and can mainly be found in the south and west of the country on heathlands. It can also be seen on moorlands in the north. It lives on heathlands and moorlands because these areas usually have shallow soft-water pools on acid soil which this newt prefers.  Around February to May it can also be found in weedy ponds and pools that hold no fish.

The Palmate Newt has a base colour of olive-brown and  is covered with lots of small compact darker markings. It has an orange stripe running down each side of its body which runs right down to its tail. It also has a yellow belly with small black spots and a pinkish coloured throat. During the months of April to May the male Palmate Newt has a very low smooth-looking crest running along the length of its body.

Palmate Newts lay around two hundred eggs individually on the leaves of water plants. After about two to three weeks ‘larvae’ or ‘newt tadpoles’ hatch out of the eggs. They have long tails and feathery gills. The newt tadpoles look like little fish even though they have tiny legs and digits. Within three to four months the young develop into miniature adults called ‘efts’ and this is when they leave the water to spend more time on land where they feed on insects and worms.