Editing Northern crested newt (section)

==Taxonomy==

The northern crested newt was [[species description|described]] as ''Triton cristatus'' by [[Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti]] in 1768.{{r|Frost-Tcristatus}} As [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] had already used the name ''Triton'' for a [[Charonia|genus of sea snails]] ten years before,{{r|Linnaeus1758}} [[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque]] introduced the new genus name ''Triturus'' in 1815, with ''T. cristatus'' as [[type species]].{{r|Rafinesque1815}}

Over 40 scientific names introduced over time are now considered as [[synonym (taxonomy)|synonyms]], including ''Lacertus aquatilis'', a ''[[nomen oblitum]]'' published four years before Laurenti's species name.{{r|Frost-Tcristatus}} [[Hybrid (biology)|Hybrids]] resulting from the cross of a crested newt male with a [[marbled newt]] (''Triturus marmoratus'') female were mistakenly described as distinct species ''Triton blasii'', and the reverse hybrids as ''Triton trouessarti''.{{r|Frost-Tcristatus|ArntzenJehle2009}}

''T. cristatus'' was long considered as a single species, the "crested newt", with several subspecies. Substantial genetic differences between these subspecies were, however, noted and eventually led to their recognition as full species, often collectively referred to as "''T. cristatus'' [[species complex]]". There are now seven accepted species of crested newts, of which the northern crested newt is the most widespread.{{r|Frost-Triturus}}