Some Newt Photos - Taricha granulosa

[Dan F]

I just thought I'd post a few pictures of the most common local caudate, Taricha granulosa, the Rough-skinned Newt.

These first three are all aquatic morphs.

Taricha granulosa is the world's most toxic caudate, the Willamette Valley subgroup being the most toxic of all.

 

[BRYANT]

Nice newt

 

[Dan F]

These pictures are of newts that were all found far from any bodies of water.

Oh, and yes, I did remember to lick my fingers. I just can't figure out why my face went numb...

 

[evilxyardxgnome]

Nice pics Dan! How did you get the one on the fishing line?

 

[Dan F]

Nice pics Dan! How did you get the one on the fishing line?

Thanks! I was fishing for bass with a worm on a big hook and a bobber. They don't get hooked, they just won't let go of the worm. I've caught quite a few this way - even more fishing worms on the bottom. These newts really are incredibly common here, you could catch dozens of them with a dip net in no time. The terrestrial morphs are less common, but I still see a lot of them.

 

[dzb912]

i wuda used em for bait

 

[Dan F]

i wuda used em for bait

Nope, fish won't touch them. They've got enough tetradotoxin in them to kill 30,000 mice!

The only thing that eats them is the Willamette Valley Garter Snake, they have evolved immunity to TTX.

 

[evilxyardxgnome]

Are they really a different morph, the terrestrial ones? Or are they just also found on land?

 

[Dan F]

Are they really a different morph, the terrestrial ones? Or are they just also found on land?

Genetically there's no difference, but they do undergo significant physiological changes - skin texture and tail shape change drastically. Some newts will go back and forth between phases. Other newts will never live a terrestrial life phase.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Great pics Dan! I find lots of Eastern Spotted Newts around where I live.