California Newt

I am going back to the garden this thursday. Hope fully I might see something new

Male, aquatic breeding phase, with smooth skin and flattened tail,

This was my first newt spotting and I loved to see it work it's arm and legs trying to crawl out of water!

added more pics.

Jellis,thanks so much for your valuable feedback! I shall certainly seek help there!

there were tons of newts in the pool. I wanted to show one protecting it's eggsac.

Jellis,the pool at UC Berkeley has two varieties. One is the California and the other is the Rough Skinned. Both are similar and hard to differentiate. The main distinguishing characteristic is the fact that Cal Newts lay a big mass of eggs in the water.. The rough skinned lay only one egg at a time on a lily pad or so.

Thank you, Antonio. This is my first Newt spotting.

Thanks Jellis, Any possibility it is the Rough Skinned newt? It's coat becomes shiny in the breeding season.