It is similar to the northern crested newt (Triturus cristatus) except larger and more robust.

[3] Southern crested newts are brown to gray dorsally, with darker patches scattered about.

Southern crested newts occur on Crimea, and in the Caucasus and south of the Caspian Sea, whereas the populations on the southeast Balkan peninsula and western Anatolia belong to the Balkan crested newt[2] while those of northern Anatolia belong to the Anatolian crested newt.

[3] The southern crested newt lives in a variety of mountain habitats, including both broadleaf and coniferous forests, slopes, and plateaus.

During the breeding season, they are found in most sources of water, such as swamps, lakes, stagnant ponds, ditches and temporary pools, and streams.