Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa) 



Description: Adults are dark brown dorsally and bright yellowish-orange ventrally. This color 

 pattern distinguishes it from all other Montana salamanders. The skin is very grainy. The 

 rough-skinned newt is a mid-sized salamander with a snout- vent length of 2.25 -3.5". Eggs 

 are fertilized internally and laid singly on submerged vegetation (Nussbaum et al. 1983, 

 Leonard et al. 1993). Larval newts, which live in lakes and ponds, are brown with a row of 

 light spots along the sides. 



Habitat and Habits: Adults typically live in moist forested habitat. In the Pacific Northwest 

 adults go to the breeding ponds during late winter and spring rains. Following breeding, 

 adults may remain in the pond or move to upland areas. The rough-skinned newt is the only 

 salamander in the northwest United States that commonly moves about on land during the 

 day. When disturbed by a predator, the newt will arch its body up, exposing its brightly 

 colored underside. This serves as a warning to potential predators. The newt has a poison 

 skin secretion known as "tetrodotoxin," which is chemically the same as that found in puffer 

 fish. Handling the newt is not a problem, but be sure to wash your hands afterwards. 

 Ingesting the secretions could be fatal. 



Surveying: Both larvae and adults can be seen in ponds during the day and at night and can be 

 captured with a dipnet. During the breeding season adults are commonly seen moving to or 

 away from the water where they may be sampled with pitfall traps. 



Status: The rough-skinned newt is known from a single specimen taken near Thompson Falls in 

 1979. Other individuals could not be found at the same locality in later years (Nussbaum et 

 al. 1983). It is most likely that the newt's presence in Montana is the result of an introduction 

 from California, Washington, or Oregon. 



Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G5 SE1 . 



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