Benjamin's new friend, Norman the Naughty Newt, is in fact a great crested newt! Here are some amazing facts about this slippery species:

• The great crested newt is becoming rare in many areas around Europe.

   

• We in Britain have the largest population of great crested newts in Europe.

• It is protected by European Law which means that they can't be disturbed and only people licenced to handle them can actually touch or pick them up.

• This is the largest of our British newts and females can reach 18 cm in length (and males measure in at 15cm).

• But, it is actually just a medium-sized newt compared to other newts that you find all around the world.

• Male newts develop a crest along their back during the breeding season and this is why they are called 'great crested newts'!

• Sometimes, they are called 'warty newt'! This is because they have a dark brown warty body. They also have amazing yellowish-orange bellies with black blotches.

• They tend to live and breed in large ponds but also move to ditches and dryer ground.