History and origin
The Palmate newt was first described by Razoumowsky in 1789, the scientific name of this species is Lissotriton helveticus, formally Triturus helveticus. 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'. Helveticus is from Latin and means 'Swiss'. Lissotriton is Latin and means 'smooth' and 'newt'.

Characteristics
They are characterised by their small size, this species can be distinguished from close relatives thanks to the males tail crest which ends in a small, cotton like thread.

Description
=Size=
- Eggs: The eggs are about 1.3 to 1.8 mm in diameter, laid in individual balls of about 3 to 4 mm in diameter.
- Larva: The larva measure about 8 to 12 mm long when they hatch. They can grow up to about 40 mm long.
- Juveniles: The young measure between 30 to 40 mm long.
- Adults: The males usually measure between 50 and 80 mm long. The females measure between 55 and 95 mm long.
=Morphology=
- Eggs: The eggs are laid individual balls fixed onto leaves. About 250 eggs are laid per females per year.
- Larva: They have a very long tail ending in a pointy manor, they have external gills.
- Adults: This is a slim Newt, their head is square shaped. Their skin is smooth and they lack paratoid glands. Their tail is thin and their limbs are quite long, the hind limbs of the males has webbing. They are more robust then Lissotriton vulgaris. In the aquatic phase, males have a very tall tail crest and their tail ends in a small thread like manor, females have a very small tail crest. Both sexes have a very small body crest. In the terrestrial phase, the crests decline and become unnoticeable. Their skin becomes dry, rough and impervious.
=Patterns & colours=
- Eggs: They are light light brown in colour. The egg is encased in a transparent ball.
- Larva: They are greyish, brownish... Their flanks can be reddish yellow. Their external gills are usually reddish.
- Adult: They are usually light brown, males have irregular dark spots along their body, females are very dull and uniform but there are a set of slightly darker markings along the flanks and tail. In the aquatic phase the males tail crest is usually dark brown nd their tail is reddish or yellowish. The lower crest is similar to their flanks, their feet webbing is black and their head is light with a bandit-like line running horizontally through the eyes. During the terrestrial phase, they are very dark and in many cases, completely black. Females may have a light line in the middle of the back.

Geographical range
They are found throughout France, northern Spain and northern Portugal. Also found in Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, southern Netherlands and the UK.

Subspecies
- helveticus - They are found over most of the range.
- punctillatus - They are found in Lac Karstrique de Pozo Negroin Spain (at 1770 m in altitude).
- sequeillatus - They are found in northern Portugal and Spain.

Sexual differences
Females are larger then males. Males have a large crest on their tail, feet webbing and they are more vivid.

Seasonal variations
As they enter terrestrial phase, the crests decline. They become very dark in colour.

Diet
They feed on a large proportion of crustaceans, insects, amphibian eggs, they even sometimes feed on their own eggs, larva eat invertebrates.

Defensive habits
If they are held, they may emit a squeak and secrete a liquid from their skin. In the aquatic phase they flee to heavily vegetated areas of the pond.

Reproduction
They migrate to the reproduction sites as early as February. If a temporary pond dries, they may breed twice. This newt performs what is know as 'parading', this consists of the male scenting a smell emitted by a female, the male then places himself perpendicularly to her and brings his tail back towards his head and vibrates it (see video). This vibration generates a small current which sends the males pheromones towards the female. If the female likes the male, she will move towards him, as he turns away, she follows him. When the female gently touches the males tail, he 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 290 to 440 eggs per year, these eggs are laid one by one, individually.

Sexual maturity, life span
The average life span for Lissotriton helveticus is about 12 years, they reach their sexual maturity in about two years.

Habits
They are active during the night in their terrestrial phase, however they may be seen by day in the breeding season and in rainy conditions. They may be found up to 100 m away from the water. They only hibernate on land.

Habitat
They are found to up to 1000 m in altitude (even as high as 2500 m in the Pyrenees). Their aquatic habitat is characterised by heavy wood cover next to the pond. Their ponds must have a calm water surface and is usually found in forests and so the water is shaded. Their terrestrial habitat is in these forests, near their pond, but it may also be at the edges of woods, in prairies. They may be found in artificial waterways.

Predators
Both larva and adults are hinted by dragonfly larva, insects and fish. They are also hunted by large newts such as Triturus cristatus. Many birds also feed on this species.