- Author: Robert J Keiffer
Many observers of California wetlands, ponds, and streams are more than familiar with newts ... an orange and brown salamander of sorts. However, most do not realize that there is a trio of species that occur in the west: 1) the California Newt (Taricha torosa),
2) the Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa), and 3) the Red-bellied Newt (Taricha rivularis). They all look similar to the novice.
All Taricha members have glands in the skin that secrete the potent neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin. This toxin is a hundred times more toxic than cyanide. This is the same toxin found in the famed poisonous Pufferfish and the harlequin frogs (poison-arrow frogs). The toxin is only dangerous if ingested.
Reproduction occurs during winter usually with the onset starting with the first heavy rains. The females release gelatinous egg masses that contain between 7 and 30 eggs. Here you see eggs clusters found in a large vernal pool at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center, and are most probably those of the rough-skinned newt.