Taricha granulosa
WHAT: A stocky brown salamander with a bright orange to yellow underside, rounded snouts and rough skin.
WHERE: Moist forests, lakes, ponds and wetlands throughout the west coast of the U.S. and British Columbia.
SIZE: 4-7 inches
EATS: Worms, insects and other invertebrates.
BABIES: Breeding at different times depending on location, newts lay single eggs hidden in vegetation. They hatch in 5-10 weeks, and larvae metamorphose when around 1-3 inches.
STATUS: Secure.
FUN FACTS: When threatened, rough-skinned newts arch their heads toward their tails, which reveals their bright orange underside to warn predators that they are toxic.
Newts produce toxin inside their skin, rather than secreting it, so it is most dangerous when eaten. They can be safely handled but wash hands thoroughly afterwards.
Not many vertebrates can survive eating a rough-skinned newt – but the common garter snake is one that can, since the snakes can tell whether the newt’s toxin level is too high to feed on.
