The presence of dead wood in various forms and in appropriate quantities is an important condition for the preservation of species-rich habitats in temperate deciduous forests.
Besides organizations that consume dead wood (also) (see our short news on Cucujus cinnaberinus), there are also species that use dead trees as hiding places. These include the smooth newt, which can find a hiding place under the detached bark of a lying dead tree.
This photo depicts a smooth newt specimen that has just finished wintering (the piece of bark was re-laid after the photo).
The photo was taken by district chief forester Kozma Botond (Kiskunság National Park Directorate).
