History and origin
The Marbled newt was first described by Latreille in 1800, the scientific name of this species is Triturus marmoratus. Triturus is from Greek and is composed of two words, the first coming from Greek Mythologies as being the sea guardian. The second meaning 'tail'. Marmoratus is from Latin and means 'marble'.

Characteristics
They are characterised by their very nice looking green and black vivid marble marking.

Description
=Size=
- Eggs: The eggs are about 1.8 to 2 mm in diameter, laid in individual balls of about 3 to 4 mm in diameter.
- Larva: The larva measure about 10 to 12 mm long when they hatch.
- Juveniles: The young measure between 80 to 90 mm long.
- Adults: The males usually measure between 115 and 140 mm long. The females measure between 130 and 160 mm long (max. 170 mm long).
=Morphology=
- Eggs: The eggs are laid individual balls fixed onto leaves. 200 to 400 eggs are laid per females per year.
- Larva: They have a long thin tail, they have external gills.
- Adults: They are svelte, a large squared head. Their skin is quite smooth. Their limbs are short and robust. Their fingers are short. In the aquatic phase, males have a tall body and tail crests, these two crest are connected at a dip. Females lack a body crest in both phases but have a quite small tail crest. In the terrestrial phase, the crests decline and become unnoticeable. Their skin becomes dry, rough and impervious. They, like all true newts lack paratoid glands.
=Patterns & colours=
- Eggs: They are light yellow, sometimes white or light green. They are uniform in colour. The egg is encased in a transparent ball.
- Larva: When they are young, they are very lightly coloured (usually yellow). Their tail is clear with a series of small dark spots, these spots are not found on the body. Their external gills may also be very light. As they grow older, their coloration becomes darker (brown, greyish...) they have many dark spots along the body and tail, their underside is light and their flanks may be bluish. Their external gills become reddish.
- Adult: They are marbled green and black, they have an orange coloured line along the middle of their back this being more vivid for females. Their head is usually dark speckled with very light irregular spots and lines. The bottom of their flanks is spotted white. Their underbody is light gray speckled with black. In the aquatic phase, males have very tall body and tail crests, this is usually dark in colour with light thin vertical bars. The lower part of the tail crest is usually uniform dark brown or black. Their belly is light gray speckled with white. In the terrestrial phase, the specimens become more vivid in colour.

Geographical range
They are found in northern Portugal, northern Spain and central & western France.

Subspecies
None described.
pygmaeus - Once a sub-species, but has now been recognised a separate species. The Pygmy Marbled newt (Triturus pygmaeus) is found in the southern half of the Iberian peninsula.

Sexual differences
Females are more robust. Females do not develop a body crest in their in the aquatic phase, and their tail crest is shorter then the males. The males tail is light in colour. The males orange dorsal line is less evident then for the females.

Seasonal variations
As they enter terrestrial phase, the crests decline. During the terrestrial phase, they become more vividly coloured.

Diet
They feed mainly on invertebrates such as spiders, water insects... They also eat insect larva. The larva eat water insects, mainly water fleas up to a size of about 11 mm long.

Defensive habits
If they are disturbed they may place their tail perpendicularly and slowly move it from side to side, they also raise their lower body repeatedly.

Reproduction
The breeding season starts just after hibernation when the specimens first enter the water (mid-February to mid-May), the male will swim in front of a female, arcing his back like a cat, he makes his tail vibrate in the direction of the female. In most cases, the female then allows him to mount her, then he lifts his tail exposing his cloacae. He then moves away and the female follows him. If the female then touches his tail with her head, the male produces a spermatophore which he lays on the bottom of the water. The female moves on top of this, the male comes around perpendicularly to the female and adjusts her position for her to be able to intake the sperm. A female may lay between 200 to 400 eggs per year, these eggs are laid one by one, individually.

Sexual maturity, life span
The average life span for Triturus marmoratus is about 9 years, they reach their sexual maturity in about three to four years.

Habits
Marbled newts are active during the night in their terrestrial phase, however they may be seen by day in the breeding season and in rainy conditions. Males are very territorial and defend parts of the ponds bottom where there is no vegetation.

Habitat
They are found under 1000 m in altitude, their terrestrial habitat includes prairies, forests edges, and wood rich areas... Their aquatic habitat is characterised by large water area and lack of fish. They seem to tolerate slightly acid of salty water.

Predators
In their aquatic phase, they are hunted by snakes. The larva are eaten by insects and their larva.