The newt rose from the depths of the garden pond like a cosmonaut drifting weightlessly through space. Toes spread, tail gently steering, it glided into a dark cluster of watercress. Freshly out of its woodpile hibernaculum, the male smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) was in breeding fettle. Dark spots dappled the length of his 10cm body, a serrated crest ran along his back, his terracotta-coloured belly was almost orange.