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AmphibianTerrestrialIntermediate
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Marbled Newt
Triturus marmoratus
The distinctive green and black European newt. Females have a prominent orange stripe along the back, while breeding males develop a large striped crest.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Caudata
Family:Salamandridae
Genus:Triturus
Species:Triturus marmoratus
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
60 - 80 %
Day temperature
16 - 22 °C
Night temperature
12 - 16 °C
Ambient temperature
16 - 22 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
None
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the oak forests, damp meadows, and slow-moving ponds of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal) and southwestern France. It splits its life between an aquatic breeding phase and a terrestrial phase.
Taxonomy and Genetics: A large European newt reaching 13–17 cm in length. The skin is rough and textured during the terrestrial phase, and smooth during the aquatic phase. Coloration consists of a striking marbled pattern of bright emerald green and deep black.
Behavior and Habits: Mainly terrestrial and nocturnal during summer and winter, hiding under damp logs or stones. In spring, they migrate to water, becoming active aquatic predators. Males perform elaborate courtship displays, waving their tails and crests.
Morphology: Highly pronounced during the breeding season. Females retain a straight, bright orange line along their spine. Males develop a high, wavy, and striped crest on their back and a silver stripe along the tail.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires an aqua-terrarium or paludarium (minimum 80x45x45 cm). Provide a 60% aquatic zone with low water flow and plenty of live plants (like Anubias or Hornwort) for egg-laying, and a 40% damp land area with moss and bark.
Lighting and Heating: Keep temperatures cool, between 16 and 22°C. Temperatures above 25°C are stressful and can be fatal. A cold winter brumation at 5–10°C is essential for stimulating the development of the male's breeding crest.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain high humidity (70–90%) in the land area. The water must be clean, dechlorinated, and well-filtered. Perform regular water changes to prevent ammonia buildup, which is toxic to their skin.
Feeding and Supplementation: Carnivorous. During the aquatic phase, feed them bloodworms, daphnia, and earthworms. In the terrestrial phase, feed them earthworms, small slugs, and crickets. Supplement with vitamins and calcium weekly.
Compatibility: Peaceful and social with conspecifics of similar size. They should not be kept with other newt species (especially Triturus cristatus) to prevent hybridization, nor with aggressive fish that might nip at their gills.
Health and Common Diseases: Sensitive to high temperatures and water pollution. Stagnant, dirty water can cause bloating (dropsy) or fungal skin infections. Avoid handling them with bare hands as their skin secretions can be mildly toxic.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Native to the oak forests, damp meadows, and slow-moving ponds of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal) and southwestern France. It splits its life between an aquatic breeding phase and a terrestrial phase.
Origin
Europe, Mediterranean, and West Asia
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 16 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 16 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 16 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
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Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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