About Triturus karelinii (Strauch, 1870)
This species, scientifically named Triturus karelinii (Strauch, 1870), is commonly called the southern crested newt. Southern crested newts have dorsal coloration ranging from brown to gray, with scattered darker patches across their backs. Their throats and bellies are orange, marked with small black dots. Adults can reach a maximum length of 7.1 inches (18 centimeters). Males develop a large jagged crest that runs from behind the neck down to the tail. The native range of southern crested newts includes Crimea, the Caucasus, and the area south of the Caspian Sea. Populations previously assigned to this species from the southeast Balkan peninsula and western Anatolia are now classified as the Balkan crested newt, while populations from northern Anatolia belong to the Anatolian crested newt. Southern crested newts inhabit a variety of mountain habitats, including broadleaf forests, coniferous forests, slopes, and plateaus.
