OTHER NAMES: Orange-bellied Newt
Latin Etymology: Taricha ("pickled meat") torosa ("muscle")
Larval California Newt (Taricha torosa) at Berkeley, California - August 2022
Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 6-11g / Length: 5-8cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened
One of the most toxic species in the world is this fairly innocuous species of newt, which is aquires by consumption of bacteria synthesising tetrodotoxin, believed to be an evolutionary arms race with garter snakes, who have developed a resistance to the toxin, with the newts being excessively toxic for most predators. Endemic to California, it is largely found in the coastal parts of the state.
Related Species:
Order: Caudata
Family: Salamandridae
Genus: Triturus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic
- Sighting Locations -
Endemic to California, primarily coastally
- CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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