Family: Salamandridae, Newts view all from this family
Description 5-8 1/2" (12.7-21.6 cm). Warty skin, light brown to black above, with sharply contrasting yellow to orange belly. Breeding male temporarily develops smooth skin, swollen vent, compressed tail, and toes tipped with black horny layer. Small eyes with dark lower lids.
Warning The skin secretions of the Newts of the genus Taricha contain toxins similar to those found in pufferfish liver. These are among the deadliest natural toxins yet discovered. A healthy adult will die from eating just one Newt. Care should be taken to wash hands thoroughly after handling Newts.
Subspecies Rough-skinned (T. g. granulosa), color typically uniform above, although populations in higher altitudes may have random dark blothces, belly with little or no blotching; range as indicated.
Crater Lake (T. g. mazamae), belly with heavy dark blotching; Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Breeding December to July in quiet waters; October to November at higher elevations. Eggs laid singly on aquatic plants or submerged twigs, hatching in 5-10 weeks. Larvae transform late summer at about 2" (5.1 cm) or overwinter and transform following June or July at 3" (7.6 cm).
Habitat Ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams with submerged vegetation and adjacent humid forests or grasslands.
Range Pacific coast, from Santa Cruz County, California, to se. Alaska. Sea level to 9,000' (2,743)m). Isolated population near Moscow, Idaho; believed to be introduced.
Discussion Most aquatic Pacific newt. On land it may be seen wandering abroad on cool humid days, searching for invertebrates. When threatened, it strikes a warning posture.
