Description
This newt is characterized by a flat head, small eyes, and greenish-granular skin. They have tiny yellow, or brown dots on the greenish dorsal background. The ribs do not penetrate the skin as in the Ribbed Newt Plerodeles waltl. During breeding season, when the adults are aquatic, they develop dorsal and ventral tail fins. They range in size up to a maximum of 185mm total lenght. Larvae have external gills.

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Algeria

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.

This newt is found in Mediterranean regions of Algeria and western Tunisia. This newt occurs in a variety of habitats including cork oak forest, coastal sand dunes, Mediterranean chaparral, pastures and even areas of cultivated fields.

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
This animal is terrestrial throughout most of the year. They breed in late winter and early spring in ponds, ditches and slow moving streams. Larvae are aquatic and have been seen near metamorphosis in April in Tunisia. These newts are common locally.

Trends and Threats
Breeding sites have been destroyed in coastal Tunisia by the construction of resorts and golf courses.

Possible reasons for amphibian decline

General habitat alteration and loss
Urbanization
Disturbance or death from vehicular traffic
Prolonged drought
Drainage of habitat
Dams changing river flow and/or covering habitat
Local pesticides, fertilizers, and pollutants
Long-distance pesticides, toxins, and pollutants

References

Schleich, H. H., Kastle, W., and Kabisch, K. (1996). Amphibians and Reptiles of North Africa. Koeltz Scientific Publishers, Koenigstein.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2007 Pleurodeles poireti: Algerian Newt <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/4277> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Jan 31, 2025.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2025. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 31 Jan 2025.

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