It can be found in coniferous, mixed and deciduous forests (composed of pine, birch, oak, alder etc.), their glades and edges, in forest steppe, bush lands, pastures, meadows, parks and gardens. In some parts of its range, it avoids ponds inside forests. It seems that higher amounts of deciduous forest and pasture, together with proximity to deciduous forest seem to be positive for the presence of Great Crested Newts, while coniferous forest and mire appear to have a negative effect on the habitat quality for the species (Gustafson et al. 2011). Reproduction takes place in permanent stagnant and in semi-flowing waters such as ponds, rarely lakes, flooded quarries, irrigation channels and ditches. The usage of small ponds is typical across the range. It can be found in modified habitat types, but this species is not considered to be very adaptable. Drainage ditches can represent important aquatic habitats for this species, which needs to be considered in restoration activities (Hartel et al. 2011).

Connectivity at multiple scales is essential for the preservation with a high density of ponds favouring its presence in aquatic habitats (Denoël et al. 2013). In pond networks, a large part of populations is not site faithful, dispersing between ponds within and among breeding seasons, also suggesting the importance of connectivity (Denoël et al. 2018). The importance of habitat features at a close range to ponds has been highlighted both for the use of aquatic habitats and genetic richness (Denoël et al. 2013; Cox et al. 2021). Introduced fish Perccottus glenii strongly prey on tadpoles of this species causing a strong decline in the number of local populations in Russia (Reshetnikov 2001).

This species is widely distributed from the United Kingdom and northern France, through southern Scandinavia, and central Europe, enters a small part of the Balkans (easternmost Serbia and a small part of northwestern Bulgaria), and spreads to the easternmost edge of the continent (European Russia). The presence of this species in Aggtelek region, north-eastern Hungary, was both morphologically and genetically proved, but mostly forms hybrid populations with Triturus dobrogicus (Vörös and Major 2007, Halpern et al. 2019). This species was recently recorded in Bulgaria (Tzankov and Stojanov 2008). It has an altitudinal range from sea level to 1,750 m asl. (Arnold 2003).

Beyond the European region, the species range extends to Asia, to the southwestern part of West Siberia (Kurganskaya Province).

Conservation In Place
Listed on Appendix II of the Bern Convention, and there is an Action Plan. Listed on Annexes II and IV of the EU Natural Habitats Directive. Protected by national legislation in many countries; recorded on many national and sub-national Red Data books and lists. It is considered Endangered in Switzerland (Schmidt and Zumbach 2005), Czech Republic (Chobot and Nemec 2017) and Serbia (Kalezić et al. 2015), Vulnerable in Romania (Botnariuc and Tatole 2005) and Bulgaria (Golemanski 2011). Present in many protected areas. The are local conservation programmes for the species in parts of its range (e.g. Poland, Germany). In the UK there is a need for monitoring following mitigation work. Successful conservation action is possible for this species (Moor et al. 2022); however, the increases seen are weaker than increases for other species (B. Schmidt pers. comm. February 2023).

A European Action Plan was approved for the species complex by Bern Convention in 2006 (Edgar and Bird 2006).

There were 56 EC-funded LIFE-projects targeting the species or its habitats:https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/life/publicWebsite/search/get?basicSearchText=triturus+cristatus

Conservation Needed
Water management should target the restoration of water bodies, serving as breeding habitat for the species throughout its range, but especially within EU Natura2000 network.

There is also an urgent need for a EU (European Union) wide coordinated approach and implementation of the Bsal Action Plan by Gilbert et al.(2020), which was commissioned by the European Commission.

Research Needed
If an outbreak of Bsal was to occur within this species' range, population monitoring would need to be carried out immediately and this species would need to be reassessed. For comparative reasons, baseline surveys should be undertaken. Other emerging pathogens might need to be screened as well.