Species: Lissotriton vulgaris (please confirm; photos attached)
Subspecies: ?
Sex: ?
Total Length: 10 cm
I found this smooth newt yesterday (18.12.2019, 21:30 local time) in the outskirts of Vienna (Austria) on a stone walkway in a garden.
Environmental data (at time of observation):
Air temp: 2°C
Humidity: not measured, very likely 100%RH: foggy and very wet since sunset (no rain)
No wind
Weather during the day: 9°C and sunny around noon/in the early afternoon, no wind, no rain
In the same garden, newts have been found in previous years in springtime (in a water meter shaft 1.5 to 2 m below ground level). There is a pond in one of the neighboring gardens; the urban housing area is located within 1 km of Donau-Auen National Park.
According to Jablonski (2013) and Kaczmarek et al. (2018), winter activity in the species is unusual in this part of Europe. For this reason, I include here as much information as possible. The environmental conditions were similar to those reported in both papers.
The animal was not moving when I found and subsequently observed it for 10 min. Upon touching it (to remove from walkway), it moved its limbs lethargically. Due to a further drop in temperature (to ca. 0.5°C), I took it in overnight.
What is the best procedure to maximize its chances of survival? Where should I release it today (open/vegetated area in the garden)? Which time of day (weather forecast: 5°C in the morning, 13°C at noon, 10°C in the evening)?
Literature:
- Jablonski D (2013) Unusual observation of the winter activity of Lissotriton vulgaris from south-western Slovakia. Folia faunistica Slovaca 18: 301-302.
- Kaczmarek JM, Piasecka M, Kaczmarski M (2018) Winter activity of the smooth newt Lissotriton vulgaris in Central Europe. The Herpetological Bulletin 144: 31-32.
Hi Judith,
nice observation!
There is only one native subspecies in Austria (L. v. vulgaris), but there is a introduced population of L. v. graecus in the south-west of Vienna. As you wrote that you found it within of 1km to the Donau-Auen National Park it should be L. v. vulgaris.
It would be great if you could report your observation also here: https://www.herpetofauna.at/index.php/fundmelden/17-funde/69-formular
It is in German, so I could report it for you if you want.
Best,
Christoph
And I would release it in the evening (if the temperature is around 10°C) and place it under or next to a dead wood or some other structure to hide (but I think this advice comes too late)
Hi Judith! As Christoph said, it would bei very important to report this observation at the page he mentioned. By the way, findings like this are unusual, but not impossible. I reported a similar finding several years ago at the beginning of January. It was an unusual warm winter, similar to this year.
Dear Christoph and Michael,
Thank you very much for your answers and recommendations.
I have reported my observation at www.herpetofauna.at as you suggested.
I released the individual on the following day (19 Dec, at around 10°C air temperature) - not in the evening but in the late morning - in the same garden next to some vegetation/heaped up rocks under a heap of wood wool (for lack of better cover material).
One hour later, I observed the newt once more. It was resting on a rock nearby, looking unscathed and fit.
Fingers crossed!
Thanks for your help/confirmation of what's best to do.
Judith
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