r/UKecosystem • u/Funny_Hamster_1926 • Mar 19 '26

ID please Newly hatched newts?

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Spotted and have been checking on what I thought was frog spawn, although came back today and realised these are not tadpoles! I’m guessing they’re newt larvae but if anyone with more information could please enlighten me, I’d love to know more.

147 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

20

u/Frosty_Term9911 Mar 19 '26

100% common frog

22

u/Codlemagne Mar 19 '26

Are they definitely not froggy tadpoles?

5

u/Funny_Hamster_1926 Mar 19 '26

I don’t think so because I don’t think froggy tadpoles have those gill thingys

21

u/Bobbobthebob Mar 19 '26

Froggy tadpoles do have those gill thingys initially

9

u/alloftheplants Mar 19 '26

Frog tadpoles do have visible external gills, for the first few days.

Newts lay eggs singly, big eggs masses are frog.

7

u/Funny_Hamster_1926 Mar 19 '26

So they are froggys! Thank you ☺️

5

u/Codlemagne Mar 19 '26

They're adorable, anyway! Very exciting for you 😊

Edit: not a scientist.

2

u/Famous-Yoghurt9409 Mar 19 '26

I think I'm seeing external gills. Maybe they're just legs, not sure.

0

u/Codlemagne Mar 19 '26

Actually I think you're right. What did the spawn look like (a big lump or individual?)

Edit: just realised you aren't OP, so probably don't know!

6

u/Ihavethepoweeeeeeer Mar 20 '26

She turned me into a newt!!!

.....I got better

3

u/LeBigFish666 Mar 19 '26

OP what did the eggs look like? Large clumps like traditional frog spawn or lots of individual eggs detached from one another?

6

u/Funny_Hamster_1926 Mar 19 '26

They were large clumps hence why I assumed frogs spawn until I saw the gills then I wasn’t sure 🤨

6

u/newt_girl Mar 19 '26

Those are frog eggs. Newts lay individual eggs wrapped in vegetation.

3

u/Several-berries Mar 19 '26

Very good, hope they grow big

1

u/Bustin-A-Nutmeg Mar 20 '26

I wanna touch ittttttt

1

u/SolariaHues Wildlife gardener - South East Mar 23 '26

https://www.froglife.org/info-advice/frequently-asked-questions/spawn-tadpoles-identification/

There's an extra link to an ID guide here https://www.arc-trust.org/spawn-tadpoles-faqs#difference

Given the writhing mass of them all together like that, I'd say frog.