11/20/2025
🔥 The GREAT CRESTED NEWT — The Tiny Underwater Dragon! 🐉✨
This striking amphibian is one of Europe’s most protected amphibians, known for its jagged crest and bright spotting during breeding season. Males develop the tall crest only in spring, using it to signal health and strength.
They rely on clean, fish-free ponds for reproduction, and their decline has made them a key indicator of healthy wetlands.
Conservation efforts across Europe focus on restoring ponds and protecting their fragile habitats.
📸: Kirsten Muir
📸: Unknown