California Newt - a photo on Flickriver

California Newt

            The California newt has warty, slate-gray skin on its back and bright orange-yellow skin underneath. Like other genus Taricha members, the glands in the skin of Taricha torosa secrete the potent neurotoxin tetrodotoxin, which is hundreds of times more toxic than cyanide. This is the same toxin found in pufferfish and harlequin frogs. Researchers believe bacteria synthesize tetrodotoxin, and the animals that employ the neurotoxin acquire it through consumption of these bacteria. This neurotoxin is strong enough to kill most vertebrates, including humans.

Due to their toxicity, California newts have few natural predators. Garter snakes are the most common, and some species have developed a genetic resistance to tetrodotoxin. The mutations in the snake's genes that conferred resistance to the toxin have resulted in a selective pressure that favors newts that produce more potent levels of toxin. Increases in newt toxicity then apply a selective pressure favoring snakes with mutations conferring even greater resistance. This evolutionary arms race has resulted in the newts producing levels of toxin far in excess of what is needed to kill any other conceivable predator.

They eat earthworms, snails, slugs, woodlice, bloodworms, mosquito larvae, crickets and other small bugs.

I took a picture of this fella at Sykes campsite on the Pine Ridge Trail in Big Sur.

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Taken in: United States / California / Posts (show map)

Taken on: March 8, 2024

Tags:

animals

nature

forest

newt

california

canon

westcoast

usa

green

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Sets appears in: • Lizards

Groups appears in: • in explore • WONDERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN GENERAL.MARAVILLAS DE LA FOTOGRAFIA EN

Camera: Canon EOS 90D, 1/250 sec, ISO 1000 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 90D
Exposure Time:	0.004 sec (1/250)
ISO:	1000
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 13.2 (Macintosh)
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