Rough-Skinned Newt
The rough-skinned newt is a small salamander found in North America, well known for its powerful poison.
Rough Skinned Newt
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Amphibia |
| Order | Caudata |
| Family | Salamandridae |
| Genus | Taricha |
| Scientific Name | Taricha granulosa |
Rough Skinned Newt Unken Reflex
Quick Information
| Other Names | Oregon newt, rough-skin newt, Pacific Coast newt |
| Physical Description | Color: Light-brown to brownish-black or olive on the dorsal side, orange to yellow undersides, yellow irises, orange lower eyelids Texture: Granular; male skin becomes smooth during breeding season Size: 4.3-7 in (11-18 cm) in length Sexual dimorphism: Enlarged vents and corny toe-pads in males during the breeding season |
| Distribution | West coast of the United States, up to British Columbia in Canada, Santa Cruz in California in the south to its northern range extending to Alaska, occasionally in Montana; introduced in Idaho |
| Where does it live | Aquatic habitat includes water-bodies with non-existent to little current, such as lakes, ponds, slow streams; on land, it prefers rotting woods on forested mountains or hills, open areas like fields |
| Lifespan | 12-18 years |
| Communication | Probably through visual and olfactory channels |
| What does it eat | Adults: Salamander and frog eggs, invertebrates, occasionally small fish
Larvae: Protozoa Juveniles: Small water insects |
| Adaptations | They produce a potent neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin; also exude a pungent smell when threatened |
| Breeding Season | Usually begins in December, can take place between March and April, during summer and fall at higher elevations |
| Breeding Interval | Every alternate year |
| Incubation Period | 3-4 weeks after being laid |
| Predators | The common garter snake |
| Diseases | Halipegus occidualis parasites infest the stomach anterior and esophagus |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Rough Skin Newt Pictures
Rough Skin Newt
Behavior
It assumes a defensive posture (unken reflex) when threatened, wherein, it curls its tail and bends its head backward, thus exposing the brightly colored underbelly, driving away the threat. It spends parts of its life, including the breeding season, in water, and otherwise on land. It also migrates to and from its various mating sites.
Rough Skinned Newt Images
Rough Skinned Newt in Water
Mating & Reproduction
Rough-skinned newts breed in vegetation along the edges of slow or still water bodies. During the breeding season, their cloacal opening swells up and the tails become enlarged and flattened to aid them in swimming.
Males reach the breeding territory before females. Once a female arrives and gets into the water, often several males grab her and hold on till there is only one left.
The victor usually grabs onto the back of the female and swim back and forth in the water, till the female becomes ready to fertilize her eggs. Then the male leaves a spermatophore, which is picked up by the female in her cloacal aperture.
Eggs are laid on stems and leaves of submerged vegetation, a few inches off the water surface.
Rough Skinned Newts
Rough Skinned Newt Pet
Life Cycle
Parental care is non-existent after birth. In some locations, the larvae take up to 4-5 months to transform, while in others, the transformation is completed the ensuing summer.
After metamorphosis, the juveniles move onto land. They reach sexual maturity at about 4-5 years of age.
Interesting Facts
- The rough-skinned newt is involved in a co-evolutionary arms race with the common garter snake, which has evolved to tolerate the poison that the newt has to offer, leading the latter to increase the potency of its venom, and so on.
- If ingested, rough-skinned newt poisoning may be fatal in humans, with symptoms including hypertension, respiratory paralysis, and neurological unresponsiveness, as was the case with an individual from Oregon. Some people have complained of dermal irritation after touching a newt, especially if the eyes are rubbed.
Rough Skinned Newt Pictures
Rough Skinned Newt Size
References:
Published on December 30th 2016 by Sudipto Chakrabarti under Coniferous Forest Animals.
Article was last reviewed on 14th January 2017.
