Red-bellied newt: Difference between revisions
Copied from my sandbox (User: Salinya/sandbox). |
Copied from my sandbox (User: Salinya/sandbox). |
||
Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
==Description== |
==Description== |
||
When full grown, the red-bellied newt measures between {{convert|2.75|to|3.5|in|abbr=on}} from its nose to its [[Cloaca|vent]], and between {{convert|5.5|and|7.5|in|abbr=on}} from nose to tail. It has grainy skin, and is brownish-black on top with a tomato-red underbelly.<ref name=calherp>Californiaherps.com [http://www.californiaherps.com/salamanders/pages/t.rivularis.html ''Taricha rivularis – Red-bellied Newt'']. californiaherps.com</ref> |
When full grown, the red-bellied newt measures between {{convert|2.75|to|3.5|in|abbr=on}} from its nose to its [[Cloaca|vent]], and between {{convert|5.5|and|7.5|in|abbr=on}} from nose to tail. It has grainy skin, and is brownish-black on top with a tomato-red underbelly.<ref name=calherp>Californiaherps.com [http://www.californiaherps.com/salamanders/pages/t.rivularis.html ''Taricha rivularis – Red-bellied Newt'']. californiaherps.com</ref> The male red-bellied newt often has a dark, broad coloring across the vent, while females do not.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|title=Red-bellied Newt - Taricha rivularis|url=http://www.californiaherps.com/salamanders/pages/t.rivularis.html|access-date=2020-11-11|website=www.californiaherps.com}}</ref> The red-bellied newt can be distinguished from other coastal newts by its red belly and a lack of yellow in its eyes. Breeding males develop smooth skin and a flattened tail. |
||
==Distribution and habitat== |
==Distribution and habitat== |
Revision as of 03:21, 11 November 2020
Red-bellied newt | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Urodela |
Family: | Salamandridae |
Genus: | Taricha |
Species: | T. rivularis
|
Binomial name | |
Taricha rivularis (Twitty, 1935)
| |
Red-bellied newt distribution |
The red-bellied newt (Taricha rivularis) is a newt that is native to coastal woodlands in northern California and is terrestrial for most of its life.
Description
When full grown, the red-bellied newt measures between 2.75 to 3.5 in (70 to 89 mm) from its nose to its vent, and between 5.5 and 7.5 in (140 and 190 mm) from nose to tail. It has grainy skin, and is brownish-black on top with a tomato-red underbelly.[2] The male red-bellied newt often has a dark, broad coloring across the vent, while females do not.[3] The red-bellied newt can be distinguished from other coastal newts by its red belly and a lack of yellow in its eyes. Breeding males develop smooth skin and a flattened tail.
Distribution and habitat
The Red-bellied newt is found in California along the coast from Bodega in Sonoma County, inland to Lower Lake, and north to Honeydew, Humboldt County.[4] It lives in coastal woodlands, especially in redwood forests.[2]
Reproduction and ecology
Red-bellied newts lay their eggs in fast-flowing streams or rocky rivers. Newts begin their lives as aquatic larvae similar to tadpoles, though elongated and with external gills. Once they have matured into the adult form, which takes about four months, and usually happens in August,[5] they leave the water until the fifth year of their lives.[2] Then, as early as January or February, the males start congregating at stream banks. One to three weeks later, the females join them and the newts mate.[2] The females lay their eggs in about 12 streamlined clusters with six to 16 eggs each.[6] The eggs are typically attached to the bottoms of rocks, or on branches and roots leaning into the stream.[7] When the adults leave the stream, instead of moving directly uphill, they move at an angle that leads them somewhat upstream.[8] The females, unlike the males, do not breed every year.[5] Red-bellied newts can live for 20-30 years.[9]
Homing
Red-bellied newts have a remarkable homing ability. They make great efforts to always go back to the same spot on the stream. They find their way over several miles of rugged terrain to get back to the spot.[10] Likely, smell is responsible for the homing ability.[11]
Defense
Red-bellied newts have a brownish-black topside to avoid being noticed. When that fails, and they are seen and disturbed, they pull their heads and tails back to reveal their bright-red undersides.[2] This serves as a warning to potential predators, as red-bellied newts have enough of a neurotoxin, tetrodotoxin, in their skin, eggs, and embryos to potentially kill an adult human,[12] or 1,200 to 2,500 mice.[13] Because red-bellied newts are so poisonous, they are almost inedible and have no reported predators other a few species of snake which are resistant to the toxin.[13][14] Like other newts, red-bellied newts have the ability to regenerate several body parts, including their limbs, eyes, hearts, intestines, upper and lower jaws, and damaged spinal cords.[15]
References
- ^ Geoffrey Hammerson (2004). Taricha rivularis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2.
- ^ a b c d e Californiaherps.com Taricha rivularis – Red-bellied Newt. californiaherps.com
- ^ "Red-bellied Newt - Taricha rivularis". www.californiaherps.com. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
- ^ Stebbins, Robert C.; Amphibians and Reptiles of California; University of California Press, Berkeley, 1972 p. 52
- ^ a b Taricha (Gray, 1850) Western Newts, Pacific Newts. livingunderworld.com
- ^ Red-bellied Newt (Taricha rivularis). enature.com
- ^ Stebbins, Robert C.; Amphibians and Reptiles of California; University of California Press, Berkeley, 1972 p. 52
- ^ Twitty, V.; Grant, D. & Anderson, O. (1967). "Amphibian orientation: An unexpected observation". Science. 155 (3760): 352–3. doi:10.1126/science.155.3760.352. PMID 17792064.
- ^ "AmphibiaWeb - Taricha rivularis". amphibiaweb.org. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
- ^ Twitty, V.; Grand, D. & Anderson, O. (1964). "Long distance homing in the newt Taricha rivularis". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 51 (1): 51–8. doi:10.1073/pnas.51.1.51. PMC 300603. PMID 16591135.
- ^ Grant, D.; Anderson, O. & Twitty, V. (1968). "Homing Orientation by Olfaction in Newts (Taricha rivularis)". Science. 160 (3834): 1354–6. doi:10.1126/science.160.3834.1354. PMID 5651897.
- ^ Taricha (Gray, 1850) Western Newts, Pacific Newts. livingunderworld.com
- ^ a b "AmphibiaWeb - Taricha rivularis". amphibiaweb.org. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
- ^ "Red-bellied Newt - Taricha rivularis". www.californiaherps.com. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
- ^ Shannon Odelberg. Research. bioscience.utah.edu