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Premiere: Alpine Newt ?


Premiere: Alpine Newt ?
Photo Information
Copyright: Gabi Klemm (klemmg) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-09-23
Categories: Amphibians
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/100 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Amphibians - Salamanders & Newts 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-09-26 17:48
Viewed: 2992
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Premiere: Alpine Newt

Triturus alpestris (Laurenti, 1768) - Alpine Newt - Triton alpestre

(Thanks to Omar Guessab for help with the ID, merci bien !)

I have zero experience with newts, so bear with me, this is a premiere for me as well (I have not found this particular newt on TN before – let me known if I’ve overlooked one).

As regards ID: Apparently the Alpine newt is the only newt with a bright red belly without any spots, so I am reasonably sure this actually is one. (Though Triturus helveticus, the palmate newt, occasionally also comes without belly-spots). Alpine newts are currently split up into ten different subspecies.
As I found it in Switzerland (in the morning in front of the office, taking flight from a lawnmower and crawling right across the path) this probably is the subspecies Triturus alpestris alpestris.
The aquatic form has blue colouring at the sides, at least the male, this one had no blue colour at least in its land form. The low crest means it is male, but it also is supposed to be white with black spots, as you can see it is red with black spots (the male palmate newt has a ?-coloured crest and a central orange-coloured band at the tail). Some newt species and/or subspecies apparently form hybrids, so now it really gets complicated. I have no idea … If anyone could enlighten me I would very much appreciate it!

The term 'Alpine` is slightly misleading because although occurring in the mid and lower elevations of that mountain range they also dwell vast regions of lowland and other mountain ranges throughout Europe and Western Russia.

The genus Triturus contains the familiar newts of Europe- small amphibians that have long tails and elongated bodies, and move by walking rather than hopping. Newts are most commonly encountered in ponds or streams,but in fact, most species spend a great deal of time on land, returning to the water to breed each spring. Newts are mostly nocturnal, and are very secretive when on land, so are rarely seen when in this phase of the life. In addition, like all amphibians, their skin is not watertight, and so they must stay in damp places in order to conserve their body water. They are thus extremely unlikely to be seen in dry conditions. (http://www.darkwave.org.uk).

class: Amphibia
subclass: Lissamphibia
order: Caudata or Urodela
suborder: Cryptobranchoidea
family: Salamandridae
genus: Triturus
species: Triturus alpestris

Enjoy!

ISO 1600;
PP: levels adjusted, saturation +10, noise/sharpen with NeatImage
Mousehill, cedryk, dew77, sandpiper2, fib2004, Signal-Womb has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

What a good close-up of this animal Gabi, I like how the out of focus tail leads the viewer through the photo. The focus on the eye is (as it should) spot on. Very well captured, for me an 8 out of 10! Best regards,
Mike

  • Great 
  • cedryk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 966 W: 52 N: 1694] (5184)
  • [2005-09-26 20:10]

Hello Gabi, no doubt this is T. alpestris :-) Very nice composition, relatively small DOF. Anyway well done :-) TFS! Michal

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-09-27 2:04]

Hello Gabi!
Wonderful capture.POV,details,lighting,eye contact and composition are excellent.TFS...:-)

A new one for me. Good composition though the DOF is a bit short. good light and sharpness.

Hi Gabi well composition here, I admire the clarity of the head and slowly fading the rest of the body, well done!!!

Nice picture Gabi, with a very interesting and informative note. Great macro shot, with bright colours and good DOF.
Regards, Fabien

Hi Gabi, good capture on this one. I really like the shallow DOF on this shot giving depth. Great details on the head. well done.

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