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==Reproduction and ecology==
==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,<ref name=livworld/> they leave the water until the fifth year of their lives.<ref name=calherp/> 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.<ref name=calherp /> The females lay their eggs in about 12 streamlined clusters with six to 16 eggs each.<ref name=enature>[http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=AR0049 Red-bellied Newt (''Taricha rivularis'')]. enature.com</ref> The eggs are typically attached to the bottoms of rocks, or on branches and roots leaning into the stream.<ref name="Stebbins2">Stebbins, Robert C.; ''Amphibians and Reptiles of California''; University of California Press, Berkeley, 1972 p. 52</ref> When the adults leave the stream, instead of moving directly uphill, they move at an angle that leads them somewhat upstream.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Twitty, V.|author2=Grant, D.|author3=Anderson, O.|name-list-style=amp |pmid=17792064|year=1967|title=Amphibian orientation: An unexpected observation|volume=155|issue=3760|pages=352–3|doi=10.1126/science.155.3760.352|journal=Science}}</ref> The females, unlike the males, do not breed every year.<ref name=livworld>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070307092149/http://www.livingunderworld.org/caudata/database/salamandridae/taricha/ Taricha (Gray, 1850) Western Newts, Pacific Newts]. livingunderworld.com</ref> Red-bellied newts can live for 20-30 years.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=AmphibiaWeb - Taricha rivularis|url=https://amphibiaweb.org/species/4289|access-date=2020-11-11|website=amphibiaweb.org}}</ref>
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 newt larvae mature into their adult form, which takes about four to six months, they will leave the water until they are ready to breed, which is typically in four to six years.<ref name=":13">{{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> Unless they are breeding, adult newts typically live underground.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web|title=AmphibiaWeb - Taricha rivularis|url=https://amphibiaweb.org/species/4289|access-date=2020-11-11|website=amphibiaweb.org}}</ref> 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.<ref name=calherp /> The females lay their eggs in about 12 streamlined clusters with six to 16 eggs each.<ref name=enature>[http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=AR0049 Red-bellied Newt (''Taricha rivularis'')]. enature.com</ref> The eggs are typically attached to the bottoms of rocks, or on branches and roots leaning into the stream.<ref name="Stebbins2">Stebbins, Robert C.; ''Amphibians and Reptiles of California''; University of California Press, Berkeley, 1972 p. 52</ref> When the adults leave the stream, instead of moving directly uphill, they move at an angle that leads them somewhat upstream.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Twitty, V.|author2=Grant, D.|author3=Anderson, O.|name-list-style=amp |pmid=17792064|year=1967|title=Amphibian orientation: An unexpected observation|volume=155|issue=3760|pages=352–3|doi=10.1126/science.155.3760.352|journal=Science}}</ref> The females, unlike the males, do not breed every year.<ref name=livworld>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070307092149/http://www.livingunderworld.org/caudata/database/salamandridae/taricha/ Taricha (Gray, 1850) Western Newts, Pacific Newts]. livingunderworld.com</ref> Red-bellied newts can live for 20-30 years.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=AmphibiaWeb - Taricha rivularis|url=https://amphibiaweb.org/species/4289|access-date=2020-11-11|website=amphibiaweb.org}}</ref>


==Homing==
==Homing==

Revision as of 03:22, 11 November 2020

Red-bellied newt
Scientific classification Edit this 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 newt larvae mature into their adult form, which takes about four to six months, they will leave the water until they are ready to breed, which is typically in four to six years.[5] Unless they are breeding, adult newts typically live underground.[6] 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.[7] The eggs are typically attached to the bottoms of rocks, or on branches and roots leaning into the stream.[8] When the adults leave the stream, instead of moving directly uphill, they move at an angle that leads them somewhat upstream.[9] The females, unlike the males, do not breed every year.[10] Red-bellied newts can live for 20-30 years.[11]

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.[12] Likely, smell is responsible for the homing ability.[13]

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,[14] or 1,200 to 2,500 mice.[15] 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.[15][16] 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.[17]

References

  1. ^ Geoffrey Hammerson (2004). Taricha rivularis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2.
  2. ^ a b c d Californiaherps.com Taricha rivularis – Red-bellied Newt. californiaherps.com
  3. ^ "Red-bellied Newt - Taricha rivularis". www.californiaherps.com. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  4. ^ Stebbins, Robert C.; Amphibians and Reptiles of California; University of California Press, Berkeley, 1972 p. 52
  5. ^ "Red-bellied Newt - Taricha rivularis". www.californiaherps.com. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  6. ^ "AmphibiaWeb - Taricha rivularis". amphibiaweb.org. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  7. ^ Red-bellied Newt (Taricha rivularis). enature.com
  8. ^ Stebbins, Robert C.; Amphibians and Reptiles of California; University of California Press, Berkeley, 1972 p. 52
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Taricha (Gray, 1850) Western Newts, Pacific Newts. livingunderworld.com
  11. ^ "AmphibiaWeb - Taricha rivularis". amphibiaweb.org. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Taricha (Gray, 1850) Western Newts, Pacific Newts. livingunderworld.com
  15. ^ a b "AmphibiaWeb - Taricha rivularis". amphibiaweb.org. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  16. ^ "Red-bellied Newt - Taricha rivularis". www.californiaherps.com. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  17. ^ Shannon Odelberg. Research. bioscience.utah.edu
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