California newt
| California newt | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Caudata |
| Family: | Salamandridae |
| Genus: | Taricha |
| Species: | T. torosa |
| Binomial name | |
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Taricha torosa (Rathke, in Eschscholtz, 1833) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Triton torosa Rathke, 1833 |
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Triton torosa Rathke, 1833
Triton Ermani Wiegmann In Erman, 1835
Salamandra beecheyi Gray, 1839
Pleurodeles californiae Gray, 1850
Taricha laevis Baird & Girard, 1853
Amblystoma rubrum Reid, 1895
The California newt or orange-bellied newt (Taricha torosa), is a species of newt endemic to California, in the Western United States. Its adult length can range from 5 to 8 in (13 to 20 cm). Its skin produces a potent toxin.
Taricha torosa was divided into two subspecies in 2007, when it was determined that the Sierra and coastal populations represent distinct evolutionary lineages. The authors elevated the former subspecies Taricha torosa ssp. sierrae to full species level and it is now known as Taricha sierrae, the Sierra Newt. Taricha torosa ssp. torosa has been retired and now all coastal populations are simply known as Taricha torosa, the California Newt.
California newts reside in the coastal counties of California and in the southern Sierra Nevada and occupy a diverse array of habitats found near the small ponds and creek where they breed, including woodlands and chaparral.
The California Newt has warty, slate-gray skin on its back and bright orange-yellow skin underneath. It is very similar in appearance to the Rough-skinned Newt and they are often indistinguishable without dissection, but in general, the California Newt has orange skin around the bottom of its eye while the Rough-skinned has gray skin at the bottom its eye. The California Newt also has eyes that protrude beyond the edge of the jaw line when viewed from above, while the eyes of the Rough-skinned do not protrude, giving its head a more bullet-like appearance. The Red-bellied Newt is also similar but has dark irises vs. yellow in the California Newt, more red coloration underneath, and a dark band across the vent that is lacking in the California Newt..
Reproduction occurs generally between December and early May. Typically, the adult newts will return to the pool in which they hatched. After a mating dance, the male mounts the female and rubs his chin on her nose. He then attaches a spermatophore to the substrate, which she will retrieve into her cloaca.
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Wikipedia