Rough-skinned Newt

Encyclopedia : R : RO : ROU : Rough-skinned Newt

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Subspecies

Species Granulosa is divided into two subspecies:

• Rough-Skinned newt (Taricha granulosa granulosa)
• Crater Lake Rough-Skinned newt (Taricha granulosa mazamae)

A newt with pebbly, non-slimy skin, that is light brown to black on top and yellow to orange on its belly, is most likely a basic Rough-Skinned Newt A pebbly skinned newt that has all black skin (on top and on the belly) is a Crater Lake Rough-Skinned Newt, named after the area of greatest abundance, Crater Lake.

A Dangerous Breed

Many newts produce toxins to avoid being eaten by predators, but the newts of the genus Taricha are particularly potent. The Rough-Skinned Newt produces the most toxins of all newts. If one is ingest the toxins are strong enough to kill a man within 30 minutes. Every account of a person eating one, it has been recorded they have died. Even an amount as large as a pin-head of this toxin is enough to kill an adult human if ingested(Box). The specific toxin that they produce is called tetrodotoxin.

Location

Rough-Skinned newts are found throughout the western coastline of the US, and are not common any further east than the Cascade Mountains and no further south than Central California, though their habitat extends upward into parts of Canada.

See also

• Newt
• Salamander
• The genus Taricha
• California Newt
• Red Bellied Newt
• Salamandridae

References

• Hammerson (2004). [Taricha granulosa]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is of least concern

 

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